At What Age Does Your Child First Visit a Dentist?
Specialists recommend that a child visit the dentist at the age of about one year or six months after the first primary tooth erupts. This is because when a dentist begins early, he or she is able to keep track of the growth of the mouth, predict the various risks of decay, and teach the parents how to take care of their mouth properly. Visits at the infancy stage are not only about cleanings, but also give essential information on the way to feed the infant, how to clean his mouth, how to teethe, use of pacifiers, and even how to suck fingers.
Prepare Your Child
The act of preparing your child before visiting a dentist can be done in order to reduce fear and create pleasant anticipation. Where feasible, appointments should be made in the morning when toddlers and preschoolers are generally more active and responsive. Many parents searching for a convenient dentist near me find that preparing their child ahead of time helps the visit go smoothly. Provide a simple explanation of what they may experience in the dental office in terms of sight and sound.
Prepare Yourself
Parents are instrumental in influencing the child to respond with regard to dental care. Talk to the dentist regarding any questions or concerns beforehand. Note that your personal attitudes towards the dental visit may affect the attitudes of your child.
Prepare the Dentist
The dentist of your child ought to know fully the health history of your child. During the initial visit, provide information about the eating habits of your child, medical history, behavioural predispositions and any of your concerns. In case your child usually feels nervous, rebellious, or scared about new things, inform the dentist about it and he/she will devise approaches to make the experience more enjoyable. The dental team can adjust their strategy, depending on the observations made by the parents regarding the general behaviour of a child in new environments.
The First Visit
The primary objective of the initial dental visit is to make your child relaxed in the dentist and dental office. The visit can be about 30-45 minutes long and can involve:
Mild inspection of teeth, jaws, bite, gums and oral tissues.
Cleaning, where necessary, such as the removal of plaque and stain.
Home brushing and flossing teaching.
Guidance on fluoride use
Diet/ oral care recommendations.
In the majority of situations, X-rays are not made at this age without any apparent necessity, except when there is a definite reason, like as checking the condition of a baby tooth and the impact it is having on the path of eruption of an adult tooth.
The Second Visit
As in the case of adults, children are supposed to have regular dental check-ups every six months. To develop familiarity and confidence some dentists might suggest a visit after every three months to very young children. The frequent check-ups enable the early identification of issues, professional cleaning, and constant support of healthy practices.
Care of Your Children’s Teeth at Home.
At home, parents can help with dental care by:
Washing the gums of infants using a wet cloth before the occurrence of teeth.
Using a soft-bristle toothbrush and a little toothpaste after the first tooth has come through.
Eliminating tooth decay in babies by not having sweetened beverages before going to sleep.
Teaching children to brush until 7 or 8 years old, demonstrating the right brush technique.
Restricting sweet desserts and juices which raise the risk of decay.