What You Need To Know About Starting Your Child’s Dental Care

Are you wondering when is a good time for your child’s first visit to the dentist? Today we’ll be looking at best practices when it comes to young children and their teeth, and how to best insure that their dental health and practices get off to a great start.

Many parents are surprised when they find out at what age a first visit is recommended. Being a parent to a young child can be a chaotic time, and it seems like there are too many things to worry about. Unless a child exhibits a problem with their teeth, it can be tempting to delay a trip to the dentist. As a pediatric dentist, it’s my job to fully communicate with parents about proper dental care, particularly when it comes to their early teeth, and to work with parents to ensure that their child’s dental health is at its best.

Deciding on when to make your child’s first trip to the dentist:

Your child’s first tooth is one of those unforgettable milestones, up there with saying their first words and taking their first steps. It’s a sign that your baby is growing up, and it won’t be long before they able to start biting into things (even things they’re not supposed to!). Unfortunately, many parents don’t understand that the early stages of teeth development are critical for ensuring their dental health throughout their childhood, and even their lifetime.

Most dentists recommend that your child make his or her first visit to a dentist’s office 6 months after their first tooth eruption, or by the time they turn one, which ever comes first. A tooth eruption may sound dangerous, but this is just the technical term for a tooth breaking through the gums. This usually occurs around the six-month mark for most children, so a good rule of thumb for that first visit is around a year old.

I know that for many parents this may seem young, but early dental care is about more than just preventing cavities. Obviously, checking for tooth decay will be a part of that first visit, but a dentist will want to do more than just search for cavities. They will be looking at how the teeth are coming in, if the jaw and bite are properly aligned, and at the overall mouth and gum health.

The simple fact is that many parents don’t place a lot of emphasis on caring for their child’s baby teeth, but this can be a mistake.

Your child’s baby teeth are more important than you realize.

It’s understandable that many people don’t understand the importance of baby teeth. After all, they disappear after a few years only to be replaced by their permanent adult teeth. So what’s the big deal?

Well, the truth is that baby teeth have many important roles in a child’s health. These baby teeth are what help make a lot of your child’s development possible, such as eating hard food, learning to speak, and even making it easier for them to smile. They also are getting the mouth ready for a child’s adult teeth, with regards to jaw alignment and spacing of the teeth. That’s why if your child loses a baby tooth earlier than would be expected, it’s important to consult with your dentist on how to maintain the proper spacing in anticipation of their permanent teeth developing.

Another thing to realize is that dental hygiene is about more than just teeth. Even if your child had no teeth at all, there’s still the issue of bacteria. The food we eat and the beverages we drink interact with these bacteria, and can create the sticky substance we know as plaque. Plaque doesn’t just cause cavities but also can result in gum disease so it’s important to prevent it from taking hold.

Tips for taking your child to the dentist for the first time.

So you’re ready to bring your young child in to see the dentist for the first time. What do you need to know to help ensure that this visit (and all future visits) go smoothly? First of all, the good news is that in many ways, it can be easier for a one-year-old to go through a dental exam than a two- or three-year-old. They don’t call them the terrible twos for nothing!

For obvious reasons, we like to keep this first visit on the shorter side. This makes the experience go more smoothly for everyone. A big part of the first examination is about establishing good habits and rapport to help make future interactions easier.

We like to get a good look at the mouth, and will be checking on your child’s teeth, gums, jaw, bite, and the over all health of the mouth. If possible, we also would like to do some gentle cleaning, including polishing the teeth and removing any plaque or tartar that may have already started to build up. This can help avoid cavities in the baby teeth down the line.

This is also a great opportunity to go over some basic dental hygiene that you and your child should be aware of. At a very early age, it may still be too early to teach your kids how to brush and floss, but we can help advise parents on how they can be taking care of their children’s dental health at this time and present strategies for how and when to introduce your children to them.

Feel free to speak with us before hand if you’re worried about your child’s first visit. We’re happy to discuss your child and offer specific tips we might have to ensure that everything goes smoothly and painlessly.

Grand Lake Dental in Grove, Oklahoma

At Grand Lake Dental, nothing is more important to us than the proper oral hygiene and care of your children. We have been serving the families of Oklahoma for twenty years. Our top priority is always their health and safety, and that’s why we believe it is so important to start early. We work with all our patients to create long lasting habits that help prevent serious problems down the road.

Contact one of our friendly staff members today to schedule an appointment.