When should I take my child to the dentist for the first check-up?
Are you wondering when you should send your child to their first dental check-up? Don’t worry, as many parents are unaware when their child should have their first dentist visit.
Experts recommend taking your child within six months after their first tooth comes out or at least when they are about 12 months.
Children’s first dental visit will introduce them to the dentist. They need to get used to the dentist’s chair and educate parents on caring for their child’s teeth. During this time, the dentist will give you information on the following:
- Baby bottle tooth decay
- Infant feeding practices
- Mouth cleaning
- Teething
- Pacifier habits
- Finger-sucking habits
This visit will help you and your child understand how important dental hygiene is even at a young age.
Things to Do Before Your Visit
Before you go to the dentist, inform your child where you are going and what you will do there. It will help them lessen their anxiety when they get to the dentist’s clinic.
Prepare your child. It would be best to prepare your kid when you go to the dentist and schedule an appointment in the morning when your child is fresh and alert.
Prepare yourself. As you prepare your child, prepare yourself too with questions you can discuss with your dentist. A parent’s feeling toward your dentist is different from a child’s. Some parents have dental anxieties, and if you have one, do not relate those fears and anxieties to your child. Parents’ role is to give moral support to their children when visiting a dentist and not make them more anxious.
Prepare the dentist. When you first visit your dentist, prepare the complete health history of your child. Tell your dentist what they need to know about your child, especially if they tend to be stubborn, defiant, anxious, or fearful, so that the dentist will know how to handle your child.
A child’s teeth need to be protected at an early stage. When they turn a year old, a visit to the dentist is necessary to prevent further damage. Prepare your child on their first visit and ensure that you will have a second visit to ensure no cavities are developing. Practice a dental hygiene routine at home and make your kid understand the importance of brushing their teeth and dentist visits.