Your Child’s First Dental Visit

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One question we hear consistently from new patients is at what age can their children visit us for a dental check up? So it’s actually not a surprise that universally, parents believe their children don’t need to see a dentist until they have a full set of baby teeth. The reality is, dental/general health issues can be missed in young kids if routine check ups are avoided from an early age. So, we advise regular check ups to start young so we can prevent, instead of react. For more reasons than one, bringing your child to see a dentist in the formative years can do a world of good for their health. 

So when should we see your kid for their first check up?     

We encourage parents to be guided by the following:

– When there are signs of the first tooth

– By the time your child turns one 

Often when we mention the above to parents it can be met with a bit of confusion because if a child doesn’t have their teeth yet, how can we properly evaluate? Is it not a better use of time to wait until more teeth have come through? The short answer is no, it is definitely not advised to wait until your child has all of their baby teeth.

Here is why:

1. Preventative Dental Care 

Firstly, teeth alone won’t tell us what we need to know to determine a healthy patient. We examine the gums and even look at the very early signs of a baby tooth to determine if there are gum problems or developmental concerns. Children can start to get cavities from the moment teeth form in the mouth, so it really does serve to check your baby's dental health before they reach their first birthday. The bottom line is we practice preventative dental care so that we can detect any potential dental issues.

2. Parental guidance from your dentist

Another reason we encourage seeing you and your child in the early stages is it allows us to provide guidance and tips for taking care of your baby’s gums and teeth, as well as inform you of correct nutrition and good habits. Especially if it’s your first, it’s vital to grasp the correct way to brush your children’s teeth so that you can teach your child when they are able to care for their own. Even knowing what kind of toothpaste to use and what to steer clear of is an important element of caring for baby teeth.

If there is one takeaway, it’s that cavities can start before teeth have fully erupted. Bacteria can actually spread between an adult and a baby, so it’s important not to pass anything from your own mouth (or other adults) into your baby’s mouth. Another bad habit to be aware of is putting your baby to bed with a bottle of milk, juice or anything sweet. 

3. Getting used to the Environment

Finally, by starting the dental visits young, your child will be familiarised with the dental environment helping them become comfortable with the sights, sounds, and staff, making future visits much less scary. 

Dental clinics can often be a daunting place for many adults, let alone for young children. However, these worries stem from the unknown, so those first dental appointments are crucial when it comes to your child building a healthy relationship with both dental check ups, and dentist.