At What Age Should My Child Have His First Dental Visit?

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All of us want to do right by our kids, and give them every push and opportunity to make something great of themselves. Helping them develop an attractive dentition is a big part of this preparation. I prefer seeing your child about one to three months after birth to at least take a look and go over healthy feeding habits and do a little bonding and positive relationship-building with the child and parents.

Every child and adult need a 'dental home' to call their very own. The American Association of Pediatric Dentistry emphasizes that children should have their first visit by their first birthdays. At that first visit, the lifestyle and risk factors of the child will be examined.

I’ll ask if the parents or siblings or caregivers have cavities (because they may unknowingly transmit infectious mouth germs to the baby that might cause a higher possibility of a lifetime of caries- especially if introduced into the mouth in that critical ‘window’ from birth to 6 months of age), are significant amounts of sweets consumed in the home, and if the  family drinks optimally fluoridated water ( 1 part per million fluoride in water).

I also go over things like are there any oral habits practiced like thumb- or finger-sucking, is the child bottle or breast fed, and when teething might happen and what to do about it. I also stress that the parents try to accident-proof the home as much as possible (cover electrical sockets, round out sharp corners on low tables, etc.).

The teeth and gums will be checked. How the bite comes together will also be assessed. I'd like to know if the baby smiles yet. If the baby does bottle or sippy-cup feeding at night, I will emphasize that only water be should be given while sleeping , because it doesn't cause cavitation of the enamel, especially of the upper front teeth.

We will show the parent how to clean the young child's teeth with a toothbrush or gauze and fluoride-free toothpaste, and what to expect in the child's development in the coming months. Parents are asked to look in the child's mouth frequently to notice any changes. A plan for follow-up care and appointment frequency will be formulated. A fluoride varnish may be applied on the teeth for more fortification against cavities.

If you keep your child's mouth cavity-free, then they won't need uncomfortable treatments, and they won't mind coming back for dental checks! Plus, when they grow up, they may keep visiting their dental home and experience a lifetime of good dental health, and overall health, to help them succeed in life.

May you have many…oh so cute and squeezable, a future happy adult, never had a cavity!…smiles!