When Should Your Child Visit the Dentist for the First Time? Tips

This guide will show you when your child should go the dentist for the first time. We will provide you with all the information you need including timing guidelines, benefits of early dental care, steps involved in their first appointment and top tips to keep their smile healthy.

Bringing home a new baby can be an amazing, busy and exciting time. Parents will often monitor their child’s health appointments, vaccinations and developmental milestones. However, many parents neglect to provide early dental care to their baby. Many parents think they shouldn’t take their child to the dentist until they start school or when they have an obvious cavity.

Leading dental experts and global health bodies advise starting early. Giving them good dental habits from a young age will provide them with strong teeth, healthy gums and a healthy attitude towards their healthcare. This comprehensive guide will tell you when your child should go to the dentist for the first time, why it is important, what will happen and how to keep their teeth protected.

Official Guidelines For When To Take Your Child

Leading health bodies including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association and American Academy of Pediatrics advise the following:

First Tooth – As soon as your child has their first baby tooth coming through.
First Birthday – If your child hasn’t developed any teeth by their first birthday then they should attend their first appointment.
First By One – Dentists often refer to this as “First visit by the first tooth or first birthday”.

Why Is Early Dental Care Important?

Many parents wonder why they should take their baby to the dentist so early when they lose their baby teeth. However, baby teeth are vital to the development of your child. They help them physically, with speech and emotionally.

Prevents Early Childhood Caries – Tooth decay can occur as soon as their first tooth comes through. Bacteria eats the sugars from milk, formula and fruit juices creating acidic bacteria that attack their baby teeth.
Helps With Alignment Of Adult Teeth – Baby teeth help provide space in the jaw bone for their adult teeth to come through. If a baby tooth falls out early due to severe decay then surrounding teeth will move into the gap causing severe overcrowding.
Helps With Speech – Healthy front baby teeth help children talk properly.
Provides Healthy Eating – Severe tooth pain will stop young children eating healthy solid foods. Having healthy teeth means your growing child will be able to eat healthy and balanced meals.
Prevents Dental Anxiety – By taking your child to the dentist early they will become familiar with the environment. Children who attend the dentist regularly from a young age rarely suffer from dental anxiety.

What Causes Cavities In Babies And Toddlers?

By knowing what causes early tooth decay you can take steps to prevent this from happening.

Putting them to Bed With A Bottle – Putting your baby to bed with a bottle of milk, formula or fruit juice will leave the natural sugars pooling around their teeth for hours causing severe tooth decay known as baby bottle decay.
Transferring Bacteria – Cavity causing bacteria can be passed onto your baby by sharing cutlery, cleaning pacifiers with your mouth or kissing them on the lips.
Too Many Sweet Snacks – Providing your toddler with lots of sweet snacks, sticky dried fruits or fruit juices will cause constant attack on their soft enamel.
Not Brushing Their Teeth – Not brushing their teeth can cause plaque to build up along their gum line. Plaque is a sticky build up of bacteria.

What Will Happen At Their First Appointment?

Knowing what will happen during their first appointment can help you get them ready for a relaxed and enjoyable appointment.

Friendly Welcome – The dental team will greet you and your family. They will ask questions regarding your child’s medical history, birth details, developmental milestones, feeding and overall health.
Knee To Knee Exam – The dentist will get them into a comfortable position known as a knee to knee exam. You will sit opposite the dentist with your knees together. Your child’s head will be comfortably placed in the dentist’s lap whilst you hold their hands.
Gentle Examination – The dentist will gently examine your child’s gums, tongue, cheeks, roof of mouth and teeth (if any) using a small mirror and light.
Applying Fluoride Varnish – If your child is at a higher risk of early tooth decay then the dentist will gently paint a small layer of safe fluoride varnish onto their teeth.
Top Tips For Parents – The dentist will give you top tips including brushing their teeth at home, using the correct amount of fluoride, providing healthy eating, relieving teething pain and stopping bad habits like thumb sucking.

How To Get Your Child Ready For Their Appointment

Getting your child ready to go to the dentist will make them see it as a fun and exciting experience.

Stay Positive – Children pick up on your feelings easily. Always use positive and excited language when talking about the dentist. Don’t mention any negative experiences you’ve had.
Reading Children’s Books – Reading colorful story books or watching child friendly cartoon episodes about friendly characters going to the dentist.
Role Play – Gently open their mouth and count their teeth using a small spoon or mirror. Take turns letting them look at their stuffed animals teeth.
Choose The Right Time – Choose a time when your child is feeling fully rested and alert. This can be straight after they have had their morning nap. Avoid during their usual nap or meal times.
Take Their Comforts – Take their favorite blanket, soft toy or dummy to help them feel safe.

Benefits Of Creating A Dental Home

Creating a “Dental Home” means building a relationship between your family and the practice.

Consistent Care – Your child will have the same dental team looking after them. This means they can monitor their dental development and spot any small bite issues or weak enamel.
Quick Emergency Care – If your child falls over and chips or knocks out a tooth whilst learning to walk then having a dental home means you can quickly get emergency care.
Personalized Prevention – Your dentist will create a personalized prevention plan based on your family’s fluoride levels in the water, diet and genetics.
No Stress – Your child will see their dental clinic as a friendly and safe place. This means they will have stress free 6 monthly check ups.

How To Look After Their Mouth Before Teeth Come Through

Start looking after their mouth before their first tooth comes through.

Brush Their Gums – Twice a day wipe their gums with a soft, clean damp cloth or sterile gauze. Do this after breakfast and before bed.
Remove Milk – Gently wipe their gums to remove any left over milk. This will remove any bacteria.
Get Them Used To It – By wiping their gums daily they will get used to looking after their mouth. This means transitioning to a toothbrush will be easy.

How To Look After Their Baby Teeth

As soon as teeth come through you will need to change how you look after their teeth.

Start Brushing – As soon as their first baby tooth comes through start brushing using a small soft bristle baby toothbrush.
Use Correct Amount Of Fluoride Toothpaste – Under 3 years old use a small grain of rice sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. Between 3-6 years old use a small pea sized amount.
Brush Twice A Day – Brush their teeth thoroughly for 2 minutes. Do this in the morning and before bed. Do not give them anything to eat or drink (except water) after brushing their teeth.
Start Flossing – As soon as 2 teeth are touching start flossing between them.
Parents Must Brush – Parents must brush their child’s teeth or closely supervise them until they are at least 8 years old and have the dexterity to brush all areas.

How To Relieve Teething Pain

Teething can cause your baby to be irritable, drool, have sore gums and have some sleep issues.

Solid Rubber Teething Rings – Provide them with clean solid rubber teething rings. Avoid liquid filled ones as they can puncture with their sharp new teeth.
Cold Teething Ring – Chill a damp cloth or solid teething ring in the fridge. This will help soothe their inflamed gums.
Gently Rub Their Gums – Wash your hands thoroughly and gently rub their sore gums with a clean finger or soft silicone finger brush.
Do Not Use Harmful Teething Products – Do not use amber teething necklaces as these can cause serious choking and strangling issues. Avoid using anesthetic gels containing Benzedrine as this can cause dangerous complications with their oxygen levels.

Top Daily Checklist

Book their first appointment as soon as their first tooth appears or by their first birthday.
Wipe their gums twice a day with a soft damp cloth.
Brush their new baby teeth twice a day using a soft bristle baby toothbrush.
Under 3 years old use a small grain of rice sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste.
Between 3-6 years old use a small pea sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste.
Do not put them to bed with a bottle of milk, formula, juice or sweetened drinks.
Start flossing daily as soon as 2 teeth are touching.
Give them plain fluoridated water in between meals to wash away any food and bacteria.
Relieve their teething pain by using cold rubber rings or rubbing their gums with a clean finger.
Attend regular check ups every 6 months.

FAQ

Can I wait until my child is 3?

No, it is too late. Many children will have early childhood caries or deep cavities between their tight baby teeth by the age of 3. By taking them to the dentist by their first birthday the dentist will be able to spot any potential risks and prevent them from getting cavities.

Will my child cry?

It is completely normal for babies and toddlers to cry. Pediatric dentists are used to young children crying and will be very patient, gentle and quick. Remain calm, speak softly and comfort them whilst they are being examined.

Why are baby teeth important?

They are very important! Baby teeth allow your child to eat healthy foods, speak clearly and feel confident. They also provide the correct anatomy in the jaw bone for their adult teeth to come through. If a baby tooth decays and falls out too early then surrounding teeth will move causing severe overcrowding and issues with their permanent teeth.

How often should they attend the dentist?

Most pediatric dentists advise attending every 6 months. This means your dentist can clean hard to reach plaque, monitor their jaw development, apply fluoride varnish and keep them comfortable with their dental care.

Booking their first appointment by the time they have their first tooth or by their first birthday is one of the best choices you can make for their long term health. Early appointments will prevent tooth decay, help them develop their jaw and teeth properly and create a positive relationship with their healthcare professionals. Combining early dental care, gentle brushing at home, healthy eating and regular 6 monthly appointments will give your child strong, bright teeth with no cavities. Book their introductory appointment today to take the first confident step towards their long term oral health.