Dr. Ashley Lerman, DDS

Meet Dr. Ashley Lerman, DDS — a dedicated advocate for pediatric dental health and founder of Firstgrin. Dr. Lerman combines expert insights with personal experience to make dental health approachable for all. In this spotlight, she shares her journey and the innovative ways she’s bringing preventative care into everyday life.

quip: To start, could you share a bit about your journey into pediatric dentistry? 

Dr. Lerman: I’ve always loved working with kids, and with my dad being a dentist and my mom a periodontist, dentistry just felt natural. I know how early dental care can shape a child’s health — and how connected it is to maternal health. I wanted to find a way to tie medicine and dentistry together, helping kids build a strong foundation early on while supporting moms along the way. I’ve always been drawn to entrepreneurship and understanding how people think, especially through public health. I love the challenge of building a brand that makes preventive care feel interesting and accessible. With a passion for consumer insights, marketing, and inspiration from the “How I Built This” podcast by Guy Raz, Firstgrin became a way to merge all of that. It’s about creating something real and meaningful — helping families see oral health as something practical, approachable, and essential.

quip: For those who may not be familiar, can you tell us what Firstgrin is and the inspiration behind its founding?

Dr. Lerman: I started Firstgrin at my first job as a pediatric dentist after residency, seeing 60-80 patients a day and feeling like a broken record, repeating the same advice about brushing, diet, and prevention. Cavities are the #1 chronic disease in children, yet many families don’t realize how impactful early care is — a single cavity in baby teeth can triple the risk of cavities in adult teeth. I wanted to create a solution that brings prevention to the forefront in a meaningful and engaging way.

We know that when parents understand oral health, it benefits both them and their kids. A mom’s oral health is closely tied to her baby’s — things like sharing bacteria or dealing with gum disease can have a real impact. With Firstgrin, I wanted to give parents the tools and confidence to build healthy habits early on. It’s about making oral care feel approachable and relevant, so families can start off on the right foot from day one.

quip: Working with young patients can be both rewarding and challenging. What drew you specifically to pediatric dentistry, and how does it differ from other specialties in terms of the approach to care?

Dr. Lerman: I was drawn to pediatric dentistry because it’s about understanding how parents and kids think, building trust, and helping families build healthy habits early on. As a parent, I know how easy it is for oral health to slip through the cracks when you’re focused on things like sleep and feeding, and most families don’t see a dentist until there’s already a problem. My goal is to change that by giving practical, easy-to-understand advice that fits into real life — offering support without judgment, so parents feel empowered, not overwhelmed.

quip: Not all parents fully understand the importance of baby teeth. What are some misconceptions you often encounter, and how do you address them to ensure children get the care they need early on?

Dr. Lerman: A lot of parents think baby teeth don’t really matter since they’ll fall out anyway, but they play a big role in things like speech, eating, and making room for adult teeth. I also hear a lot of, “It’s just one cavity,” but even one can raise the chances of future cavities in permanent teeth. What most people don’t realize is that the 6-year molar — the adult tooth most likely to get a cavity — comes in right at six years old! That’s why starting healthy habits early with good routines, diet, and nutrition is so important — not just for teeth, but for overall health. My goal is to meet parents where they are with simple, practical advice that works for their busy lives and sets their kids up for success.

quip: At quip, we aim to make oral care fun for kids with products like our Glow in the Dark Brushes. How do engaging products impact children's brushing habits, and what other innovations could help motivate them?

Dr. Lerman: ​​Glow-in-the-dark brushes are a great way to get kids excited about brushing! It’s normal for kids to resist brushing as a way of asserting independence, so giving them choices — like picking their toothbrush or toothpaste — can make them feel more in control and make things easier for parents. I always tell families to focus on progress, not perfection, and treat brushing and flossing as non-negotiables, just like bedtime or car seats. Parents should help their kids brush until they can tie their shoes — and even after that, it’s important to keep checking, since it’s so common for kids to brush for two seconds and then claim they’re done. Making it part of a fun routine with lots of praise and small rewards goes a long way in keeping them on track.

quip: Dental fear is common in children. What role do you think the design of the dental office, from decor to the tools used, plays in reducing anxiety? How do you implement this in your own practice?

Dr. Lerman: The design of the dental experience plays a huge role in helping kids feel comfortable. It’s not just about the decor, though a fun, welcoming space helps. It’s about how we interact with kids at every step. I use a “tell, show, do” approach: I explain what I’m going to do, show them the tools in a non-scary way, and then walk them through the process step by step. I always get down on their level, use kid-friendly language, and keep things positive with lots of praise.  Being on the same page with parents is also really important. We manage expectations together, so there are no surprises for the child or the parent. Creativity helps too, like giving silly names to tools or making games out of routine steps. The goal is to create an environment where kids feel understood, supported, and involved, so their dental visits become something to look forward to, not fear.

quip: What techniques or practices do you find most helpful for creating a positive experience for young patients?

Dr. Lerman: Creating a positive experience with kids is all about helping them feel safe and involved. I’ll let them hold a mirror or count their teeth so they feel like part of the process. I make sure to give specific praise, like, “You’re doing such a great job keeping your mouth open!”— even if there are a few tears along the way. It’s okay if it’s not perfect (most of the time it isn’t – that’s just reality). I always remind them, “See? You can do hard things!” The goal is to reframe the experience so they leave feeling proud of themselves and ready for next time.

quip: As technology advances, how do you see tools like digital health platforms or educational apps transforming the landscape of pediatric dental care? Are there any innovations you’re particularly excited about?

Dr. Lerman: As technology evolves, digital health platforms and educational apps are transforming pediatric dental care by helping us reach families early, especially new parents. I’m excited about how AI and data can personalize outreach — at Firstgrin, we use these tools to connect with parents during pregnancy or soon after their baby is born. A mission of ours is preventing disease before it starts rather than waiting to treat it. With Firstgrin, we combine this digital approach with our intro oral care kits, giving families the tools and knowledge they need right from the start. The kits provide everything from finger brushes to educational materials, so parents are set up with healthy routines early on. Our app complements this by sending reminders, tips, and risk assessments tailored to their child’s development. The goal is to make prevention practical, accessible, and easy to fit into everyday life, so by the time families visit the dentist, they’re already ahead of the curve.

quip: With your experience as both a mother and a dentist, how has parenthood influenced your approach to patient care and the advice you share with families?

Dr. Lerman: Being both a mom and a dentist has definitely shaped how I care for my patients. Parenthood teaches you pretty quickly that even with a plan A, B, and C, things don’t always go as planned — and that’s okay. I try to bring that same patience and empathy into my practice. I know how hard it can be to manage everything, so I focus on offering different solutions that meet families where they are, without any judgment. It’s all about baby steps and finding what works for your child, even if it looks different from day to day. My job is to support parents, not shame them, and help them feel confident that they’re moving in the right direction.

quip: Looking ahead, what initiatives or changes do you think are necessary to improve access to pediatric dental care and support better oral health outcomes for children?

Dr. Lerman: To improve access to pediatric dental care, we need to focus on meeting families where they are, both physically and digitally. This means bringing oral health education into places parents already go, like pediatrician visits, schools, and community programs. We also need more preventive programs that start early, even during pregnancy, to help parents understand how their own oral health impacts their child’s. Insurance coverage for preventive care should be expanded too—things like oral care kits and educational tools should be accessible to all families, not just those who can afford them. Technology can also play a big role by using apps and digital tools to send reminders, tips, and support between visits. If we make oral care easier to integrate into everyday life, we can prevent problems before they start and set kids up for better long-term health.

quip: You’ve built a strong reputation both in practice and on social media. How do you balance being a clinician with engaging an online audience? Was this always a goal, or did it evolve naturally?

Dr. Lerman: ​​I never intended to be the face of the company. In fact, I wanted to stay behind the scenes. But when I got pregnant, that changed. I realized how important it was to step up and speak about maternal health, especially maternal oral health, which often gets overlooked. Research shows that untreated gum disease during pregnancy can increase the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight, and maternal cavities raise the risk of early childhood cavities due to bacteria transmission. With so much at stake, it felt personal to advocate for these connections and help parents understand how caring for their own oral health impacts their baby’s health, too. What really drives me is the belief that parents want the best for their kids — they just need the right information in a way that makes sense. My goal is to translate public health data into practical, manageable advice, so parents feel empowered, not overwhelmed. The connections I’ve made with other parents through social media have been such a big part of this process. The connections I’ve made with other parents through social media have been incredibly meaningful. It’s become a space where we exchange ideas, share experiences, and learn from one another. It’s a reminder that we’re all figuring this out together.

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Follow Dr. Ashley Lerman on Instagram: @pediatric.dentist.mom