Today, pediatric dentists recommend that children make their first dental visit at or before their first birthday or no more than six months after the eruption of their first tooth. This recommendation has changed over the past few years, and parents may be surprised that infants and toddlers need routine dental checkups.
Why Babies and Toddlers Need Dental Care
Build Trusting Relationships
Pediatric dentists know special techniques to calm, distract, and entertain children during necessary care. Children who see the dentist as toddlers learn to trust them and associate them with fun and positive experiences.
Monitor Development
Your child's dentist can track the progress of primary tooth eruption and understand how the child's teeth will grow into preschool and beyond.
Catch Early-Stage Issues
Pediatric dentists closely monitor children at a higher risk of tooth decay. At the appropriate age, they can address habits like thumb-sucking and bottle use.
Promote Lifelong Oral Health
Some parents mistakenly believe that primary teeth do not need as much care as permanent teeth. On the contrary, properly caring for the primary teeth is vital to your child's lifelong oral health.
About the First Dental Visit
The first visit is quick, fun, and intended to be stress-free. The child will receive a complete exam and developmental evaluation. The parent generally stays in the room with the child, though the eventual goal is to make the child feel comfortable with just the dentist and hygienist.
The dentist will review proper home care with the parents, instructing them on brushing and flossing, techniques, and recommended products like children's fluoride toothpaste and toothbrushes.
Recommendations for Early Home Care Routines
Before teeth erupt, parents should gently wipe their child's gums twice a day with a damp baby washcloth. After teeth emerge, brush them with a tiny rice-grain-sized piece of children's fluoride toothpaste and a baby toothbrush.
Frequently Asked Questions About Early Dental Care
What kind of toothpaste should I use for my toddler?
Today, dentists recommend fluoride toothpaste for children of all ages after their first teeth erupt. This recommendation represents a change from the past. Dentists concluded that the small risk of swallowing a tiny grain of toothpaste is less crucial than fluoride's demonstrated benefits. A children's toothpaste with a fun flavor is fine.
At what age do children begin receiving dental X-rays?
Typically, X-rays become routine around age five to six. Most pediatric dentists avoid X-rays for very young children unless they see problem signs that need attention.
Contact Tender Smiles 4 Kids
If you have a young child, we would love to meet them and help you protect their oral health. We have five convenient New Jersey locations. Please contact us at one of our offices today to schedule an appointment for your child.