Most babies won’t get their first tooth until they’re about six months old. They also won’t usually have all their baby teeth until they’re about three years old.
This might lead you to believe that you won’t have to take a child to see a dentist for at least a few years after they’re born. But in reality, your child’s first dental visit should come a whole lot sooner than that.
So, when should you make your child’s initial dental visit? We’re going to answer this question and a few others so that you’re able to work with a pediatric dentist to get your child the dental care they need during the early years of their life.
Continue reading to see when your child’s first dental visit should be and what you can do to get ready for it.
When Should You Schedule Your Child’s First Dental Visit?
Generally speaking, you should try to arrange for your child’s first dental visit to take place during the first year of their life.
Most pediatric dentists will tell you that you should bring your child to them within six months of their first tooth coming in. But even if your child is a late bloomer, you’ll want to schedule their first dental visit for before their first birthday.
A pediatric dentist isn’t going to need to do any extensive teeth cleaning during your child’s first dental visit. But they will be able to get your child off to a strong start when it comes to their dental care.
What Will Take Place During Your Child’s First Dental Visit?
Because a pediatric dentist isn’t going to need to do much teeth cleaning during your child’s first dental visit, you might wonder why it’s so important for you to schedule a visit in the first place.
First and foremost, you will want to have a pediatric dentist examine your child’s teeth ASAP to see how they’re coming in. They might be able to pinpoint potential problems with your child’s teeth that they can then monitor as they move forward.
You will also want to have a pediatric dentist talk to you about some very important topics. These topics will include things like:
- Baby bottle tooth decay
- Infant mouth cleaning techniques
- Pacifier and finger-sucking habits (and how to break them!)
As your child gets more teeth, it’s going to become more and more complicated trying to take care of them. So you should try to get both you and your child off to a great start to ensure you don’t fall behind.
How Can You Prepare for Your Child’s First Dental Visit?
Bringing an infant to a pediatric dentist can be very difficult for some parents. But there are, fortunately, some steps you can take to make your child’s first dental visit easier on both you and your child.
For starters, you can put them down for a nap prior to their dental visit so that they’re not too cranky when they sit down in a pediatric dentist’s chair. You can also make sure they aren’t hungry during their dental visit.
As for you, you should jot down any questions that you want to remember to ask a pediatric dentist. You should also do what you can to avoid passing on any dental anxieties you might have to your child.
What Should You Ask During Your Child’s First Dental Visit?
As we just alluded to, you should try to ask a pediatric dentist as many questions as you can during your child’s first dental visit. If you aren’t sure what kinds of questions would be appropriate to ask on such an occasion, here are some good options for you:
- Which toothbrush and toothpaste should I use for my child’s teeth and gums?
- How often should I brush my child’s teeth and how long should I do it for?
- What can I do to help provide protection for my child’s baby teeth?
- Should I be actively working to stop my child from developing bad dental habits?
A good pediatric dentist will be able to answer any and all questions you might have during your child’s first dental visit. Don’t be afraid to ask them as many questions as you want. You might also want to get into the habit of putting any questions you want to ask a dentist into your phone so that you have them handy for your child’s next dental visit.
When Should Your Child’s Second Dental Visit Be?
As soon as your child’s first dental visit is over, you should start thinking about their second one. Most pediatric dentists suggest that young kids come in for appointments every six months just like adults do.
Your pediatric dentist might also recommend that you bring your child in every three months based on the condition of their teeth and/or gums. You should take their advice and come for dental visits as often as your child’s dentist wants to see them.
Bring Your Child to Our Office for Their First Dental Visit
Your child’s first dental visit is going to be a monumental moment. So you don’t want to call on just any old pediatric dentist to see your child.
Instead, you want to work closely with a pediatric dentist from our office. We’ll see to it that both you and your child have an excellent experience during their first dental visit.
Contact us now to arrange to see a dentist for your child’s first dental visit.
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