Unsure about when to take your child to the dentist?
You are not alone!
One of the most common questions we receive is: “When should I start taking my child to the dentist?”.
Many parents easily assume that there is no need for the dentist until the children have full teeth or (worse) if they develop dental problems.
This is a common (yet false) belief. The answer is surprising!
Your child need to visit the Pediatric dentist much earlier than you think!
When to see the dentist?
The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend that a child’s first visit should be when the first tooth grows in the mouth, or with your baby’s first birthday- whichever comes first! However, if you notice anything unordinary in your child’s mouth before that, it is better to be safe than sorry. Book an appointment immediately.
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Isn’t this too early?
Dentistry is not only about teeth! It is about everything inside your child’s mouth! The earlier your child visits the pediatric dentist the better in protecting your child from tooth decay.
Do you believe that a child may develop a cavity as early as the first tooth coming through! However, in our pediatric dental office we do more than examining your child’s teeth. It is all about talking to you the parent to give “Anticipatory guidance” to make sure your baby’s teeth are healthy for life! What that means is: this is the golden opportunity to answer all your questions about baby teeth. When to brush, how to brush, which tooth brush to use, which toothpaste to use for babies, is tooth paste safe my baby, does the milk bottle cause decay..etc and so many more questions to answer.
It is better to be safe than sorry! Just saying!
How will your child’s first visit be?
Actually, the first visit (often) isn’t for doing any real dental work. It is a good and important chance to introduce your child to the dentist and the dental clinic. First dental visit is to allow your child to explore everything of importance at the dentist’s office. This will definitely help your child be even more comfortable and familiar with the dentist office environment, tools and instruments included.
In addition, it allows the pediatric dentist to examine your child’s entire mouth quickly and look for signs of tooth decay. A specialist pediatric dentist will be checking your child’s jaw, gums, tongue tie and bite. Screening and predicting any future problems is a tooth saver! This is also a good chance to look for baby bottle tooth decay or early childhood caries which is a common problem in infants and toddlers. A dentist for toddlers will be able to advice you of solutions to this problem. Read this blog to know more about the topic: Baby Bottle Tooth Decay: All you need to know!
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This first visit to the dentist is another wonderful opportunity for your child’s dentist to go over some basic good old oral hygiene tips and tricks.
Continue reading: When Should I take my child to the dentist? #02
Hope this helps. Do get in touch for your queries, questions or even daily struggles.
“To a lifetime of healthy happy smiles!”
