A young child’s first dental visit is an important milestone that shapes the future of their oral health. Creating positive experiences at the dental office early in life can prevent the development of dental phobia and encourage your child to look after their teeth. Receiving dental care from a young age will also protect your child’s overall health by preventing cavities, gum disease, and infection.

How Old Should a Child Be To Start Seeing The Dentist?

Many parents are surprised to learn that their children should start seeing the dentist within their first year of life. Pediatric dental visits are crucial because tooth decay can – and often does – strike early. According to the CDC, approximately 21% of kids aged 2-5 have cavities, and the risk of tooth decay doubles every year a child doesn’t visit the dentist.

Babies and toddlers are susceptible to dental problems arising from baby bottle tooth decay, thumb sucking and the excessive use of pacifiers, among other issues, making preventative oral care necessary. Pediatric dentists also play an integral role in alleviating discomfort during cases of severe teething. As such, experts recommend taking children to the dentist at around one year of age or six months after their first baby tooth erupts, whichever happens first.

Importance of Early Dental Visits

One of the most compelling reasons to take your baby to the dentist is to build trust and positive associations with the dental office. Early dental visits don’t involve any procedures, as babies and toddlers are too young for dental work. Instead, they give your child a chance to visit with your family dentist while receiving gentle preventative care. Pediatric dentists make every effort to ensure these formative experiences are fun and relaxing, which can significantly reduce fear and apprehension if your child eventually needs dental work.

Taking your child to the dentist within their first year of life also helps your dentist create a record of their oral development, which will be useful later on. During these early dental visits, your child’s dentist will begin monitoring their oral health, looking for potential issues like teeth crowding, misalignment, dental enamel defects, and gum problems.

Even if your child’s teeth haven’t started to erupt yet, your dentist can give you valuable information on how to prevent baby bottle tooth decay and advise you on proper infant feeding and mouth-cleaning techniques. They can also discuss the best time to wean your baby off pacifiers to reduce the risk of dental complications.

Being proactive about your child’s oral health is one of the best ways to protect their overall health and emotional well-being as they grow up. Unaddressed dental issues have been shown to negatively impact a child’s confidence and self-esteem, reducing their ability to make friends. Research suggests that kids with excellent dental health also miss less school and achieve higher grades than kids with poor oral health.

What to Expect at Your Child’s First Dental Visit

The dental exam process will differ depending on how old your child is at their first visit. For children under two years old, the dentist will typically perform a visual examination of the child’s gums and any erupted teeth. The main focus of the appointment, however, is typically providing parents with information on how to look after their child’s teeth at home. In addition to reviewing proper brushing and flossing techniques, your dentist may provide dietary counselling that alerts you to hidden causes of tooth decay. For example, many parents are unaware that fruit juices and starchy foods (such as bread) can cause cavities or that teething biscuits contain tooth-damaging sugar.

For kids over age five, the dental exam process usually involves a full dental cleaning and checking for signs of tooth decay. X-rays may also be taken to check the development of  adult teeth. Your child’s dentist will also demonstrate correct brushing and flossing techniques so your child can keep their teeth clean and properly care for them at home.

From here on out, it is crucial that you schedule routine checkups for your child to ensure good oral health and dental hygiene habits are maintained.

Preventative Care at Home

While the best resource for preventative care strategies is your dentist, there are some simple methods you can use to prevent tooth decay at home leading up to your child’s first dental appointment:

-Start caring for your child’s teeth even before they erupt. Use a damp, soft washcloth to gently clean their gums twice a day.

-As soon as your child’s first tooth appears, start brushing their teeth with a small toothbrush and a tiny dab of fluoride toothpaste.

-To prevent baby bottle tooth decay, avoid giving your child milk, juice, or other sweetened liquids before naps or bedtime. You should also remove the bottle when your child is done drinking, ideally after no more than six minutes of use.

-Start teaching your child how to brush their teeth around age three, but continue assisting them to ensure the teeth are cleaned thoroughly. (Kids should receive help with brushing until about age eight.) Slightly increase the amount of toothpaste used to about the size of a pea, and show your child how to rinse their mouth out after brushing.

-Restrict foods and sugary drinks that are known to cause tooth decay. In addition to limiting your child’s consumption of candy, soda, and other sugary treats, remember that fruit juice, dried fruit, and starchy foods should also be consumed in moderation. For a healthy treat, choose fresh fruit instead; it contains ample fibre, which helps naturally remove sugars from the teeth.

About Dr. Oscar Dalmao DPC, Mississauga’s Leading Pediatric Dentist

Prioritizing your child’s dental health from an early age is one of the best ways to give them a healthier, happier future. By working with a caring, thorough dentist, you’ll give your child a healthy smile they can be proud of while preventing dental fear.

As an experienced pediatric dental practice, we know how important it is to create a relaxing, welcoming environment for our young patients – and their parents. When you visit us, you can rest assured that we’ll take the time to listen to your needs and concerns and create an oral health care plan that works for you and your child.

To learn more about our family dentistry services in Mississauga, contact Dr. Oscar Dalmao and associates today. Our friendly staff will be happy to schedule your child’s first dental exam and set them on the path to lifelong oral health.