When Should I Start Taking My Child to the Dentist

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As soon as teeth appear, they are susceptible to tooth decay. You should take your child to visit the dentist around their first birthday - the general rule is that six months after the first tooth erupts, you should take your child to a pediatric or family dentist.

By taking your child to the dentist at a young age, you can help prevent problems like tooth decay, and learn the best ways to clean your child's teeth and enforce good oral habits.

Bringing your child to the dentist beginning at an early age will help make them comfortable to the surroundings and reduce anxiety associated with visiting the dentist. This will help ensure stress-free visits in your child's later years.

Proper Oral Care Begins at Home

While you do not have to bring your child to the dentist until he or she is 1 year old, proper dental care begins at home.

• Even though you can not see your infant's teeth, they have begun forming during the second trimester.
• At the time of birth, your newborn has 20 primary teeth developing in their jawbone.
• You can clean your infant's teeth by running a damp wash-cloth over their gums to prevent an accumulation of bacteria.
• When one or more teeth erupt, you can begin brushing them with a soft toothbrush or by rubbing them with gauze after meals and before bedtime.
• Do not allow your baby to sleep with a bottle in his or her mouth, as the sugars sit on their tooth enamel and can begin eroding it.
• Arrange a time for feeding, because sucking on a bottle all day can be just as damaging.

Pediatric Dentists

You may decide to take your child to a pediatric dentist who specializes in treating children. These specialty dentists are trained in identifying and addressing a number of kid's oral health issues. Pediatric dentists focus on:

• Cavity prevention - Avoiding oral health problems before they occur
• Teaching children proper oral care
• Performing accurate exams to identify any issues affecting the teeth and gums

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Your Child's First Visit

Before the appointment, ask your dentist what procedures to expect and consider how your child may react. Young children are often fussy and struggle to sit still. Tell your child what to expect, and try to instill excitement in them, so that it can be the most positive experience possible.

Many first visits are scheduled simply to introduce your child to the dentist. If your child is scared or uncomfortable, you may need to reschedule. As a parent, it is your job to help your child stay calm and cooperative. Brief, consecutive visits are designed to build your child's trust with the dental professional, which is important if treatment is required later on.

What Happens at the First Visit

If your child cooperates, the first visit can include:

• A gentle yet thorough examination of your child's teeth, jaw, gums and oral tissues to monitor growth and development
• A demonstration on proper home oral care
• A gentle cleaning (when indicated), which includes polishing your child's teeth and removing any plaque, tartar or stains
• X-rays
• An assessment for fluoride treatment

Your dentist will answer any questions you or you child have, and should strive to provide a relaxed environment for your child.

Like adults, children visit a dentist for a routine checkup every six months.

Sometimes three-month checkups are scheduled at first to build the relationship between dentist and child.

Attribution/Source(s):

This quality-reviewed article relating to our Dental and Teeth section was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World due to its likely interest to our disability community readers. Though the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or length, the article "When Should I Start Taking My Child to the Dentist" was originally written by Disabled World, and published by Disabled-World.com on 2010/08/07 (Updated: 2020/02/23). Should you require further information or clarification, Disabled World can be contacted at www.disabled-world.com. Disabled World makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith.

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