When should your baby visit the dentist for the first time? The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that the first appointment be before the child’s first birthday or within 6 months of the first tooth erupting. As a parent, you have enough on your plate, but make sure you don’t put off getting your child proper dental care.

It’s never too early to start giving your child the oral health care they need. Even if they still have their baby teeth, the permanent ones are already developing beneath the surface. Your family dentist can ensure they come in properly.

Let’s explore the importance of your baby’s early introduction to the dentist and how dental care changes as your child gets older. We also answer parents’ common dental questions.

Getting to Know Your Family Dentist

The primary purpose of your child’s first visit will be to make them feel comfortable and to get to know the dentist. Our family dentistry office in Cincinnati takes extra-special care to introduce the child to the dentist in a relaxed, friendly setting. A parent is always present, often holding the child on their lap while the dentist demonstrates the various instruments. Kids love to ride the dentist’s chair. We should sell tickets!

The child will also have fun exploring models and pictures of teeth and gums, learn proper toothbrushing techniques, and take home a free toy. We try to make our dental clinic safe and welcoming for the entire family. Dentistry doesn’t need to be scary. We practice gentle dentistry for patients of all ages, including the anxious toddler who hates getting dental cleanings.

Why It’s Important to Start Early

It’s tempting to overlook the dental health of babies and toddlers because they are so young. After all, they just have baby teeth that will eventually fall out. What difference does it make?

Caring for baby teeth matters a great deal! You can never start too early with great dental care and regular visits to your family dentist. That’s why you should have a dentist nearby whom you visit regularly. Especially for children, having a family dentist who sees them on a long-term basis will be familiar with their health and development, enabling us to provide the best and most knowledgeable care possible.

At the very least, schedule your child’s first dental visit by age 2; ideally, do so within 6 months of their first tooth. The dentist will remove plaque buildup, provide a checkup and X-rays, and teach your child how to care for their teeth. We try to make that first visit as fun and educational as possible.

Something many parents don’t think about is the adult teeth in the jawbone that are already waiting to erupt when baby teeth are still present. A family dental provider often analyzes unerupted adult teeth via X-rays. They need to document what they should look like at each stage and when they’re expected to arrive.

Some children develop too many adult teeth and may require tooth extractions as they emerge. Others are missing some permanent teeth and may need implant crowns later in life. Getting regular dental care from a great family dentist early in life will provide the best preparation for any of these scenarios.

Dental Care at Every Developmental Stage

The first dental appointment is just one of many milestones in your child’s dental development. With growth comes adaptation, and so should it be for their dental care. With your help and the care of a trusted family dentist in your neighborhood, your child will benefit from consistent care at every stage of childhood and beyond.

6-12 Months

Even before the first tooth erupts, your child’s mouth still collects bacteria after feeding. To clean the area, wipe the gums with a soft, damp washcloth.

With the arrival of the first baby tooth, start using a toothbrush for babies with a tiny smudge of toothpaste that’s designed for infants. Be sure to schedule the first dental checkup soon.

1-6 Years

As more teeth come in, the teething process will be painful and uncomfortable for a while. You can let your child chew on a clean, soft, damp washcloth for relief. If you use a rubber teething ring, don’t give it to your child if it’s frozen; it could damage the gums.

As the remaining primary teeth erupt, twice-daily brushing and flossing remain essential, as do regular dental checkups. Have your child use a toothbrush with soft bristles. A pea-sized amount of toothpaste is appropriate once they learn to spit out any excess at the end of brushing. Introduce flossing as soon as you see two teeth that touch.

6-12 Years

Most children begin losing their baby teeth by age 6, with the lower central incisors typically the first to fall out. When a tooth becomes loose, it’s okay to gently wiggle it, but discourage your child from pulling it prematurely. It’ll come out when it’s ready. It takes most children until age 12 to replace all the primary teeth with their permanent set.

Encourage continued dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing. Ask your dentist about fluoride treatments or sealants on the molars to provide added protection against cavities.

12-18 Years

After age 12, most children develop a second set of molars, followed by the wisdom teeth starting around age 17. Regular checkups can help you keep an eye on the wisdom teeth, especially if they begin to cause pain or crowd out the other teeth. Your dentist can determine whether they need to be extracted.

Ensuring Continuity of Care Into Adulthood

As your child leaves the nest, you can’t be with them every minute to ensure they make the right oral health decisions. You can’t know for sure if they’re maintaining their brushing and flossing routine at home or continuing to schedule their own dental appointments.

Encouraging your child to develop a strong, positive attitude toward dental health now can help them take greater responsibility for their oral health when they get older. Also, there’s no reason they can’t continue to see the same family dentist they did while growing up. That’s one of the reasons our professionals at Beckham Square Family Dental take the time to get to know all our patients and build relationships with them, even when they’re young.

As a parent, there are many things you can do to facilitate your child’s transition into healthy dental habits in adulthood:

• Maintain regular dental checkups for the whole family. Normalize semi-annual dental appointments.
• Encourage adult family members and older children to model positive behaviors, such as regularly brushing and flossing. Children learn by example.
• Introduce educational videos, books, apps, and other materials that talk about the importance of good dental health.
• Encourage healthy eating and other lifestyle habits. Start early by limiting consumption of sugary foods and drinks, which can contribute to tooth decay.
• Allow your children to discuss their fears about the dentist. Reducing uncertainties about procedures and alleviating anxiety will make them less afraid of future dental visits.
• Encourage your child to talk to their dentist, dental hygienist, and other staff members. Helping them develop positive relationships with the dental staff will build trust and familiarity with the team over time.

Common Questions from Parents

As a parent, you likely have lots of questions about how best to care for your child’s teeth and set them up for a lifetime of good oral health. Here are the most common questions we get:

When Should I Schedule My Child’s First Dental Visit?

According to the ADA, it’s best to have your child start seeing the dentist before their first birthday, or within 6 months of getting their first baby tooth. It’s essential that you don’t put off this important milestone, as it can be the first of many steps toward establishing lifelong healthy habits.

How Often Should My Child See the Dentist?

The twice-yearly recommendation applies to young children as it does to the rest of your family. Dental checkups and cleanings twice a year can help spot cavities and other issues. Your dentist will have a better idea of how often those appointments should be, depending on the health of your child’s teeth.

What Kind of Toothbrush Should My Child Use?

A brush with soft bristles is best, and that’s true for everyone. You can find toothbrushes with small heads for infants and young children.

When Does the First Baby Tooth Come In?

Most children get their first baby or primary teeth at around 6 months, and it usually starts with the bottom central incisor. Your child’s baby teeth—20 in all—will be in at 2 ½ or 3 years of age.

Gentle Family Dentistry for the Cincinnati and Sharonville Areas

Of course, little kids aren’t the only ones who might be afraid to go to the family dentist. Moms, dads, and other adults are, too. We understand the dentist’s office can be scary. That’s why we do everything we can to make your visit as relaxed and comfortable as possible. We are a family dental practice in the Cincinnati area that makes gentle care a foundation of our practice.

Nearly anything you need, we can accommodate. We encourage adults to bring in their own music. If you ever need a break during a procedure, just ask. If you need more numbing during a tooth extraction or root canal, we’re happy to help. We design our waiting rooms and care facilities to be as relaxed and inviting as possible. We want you to feel at home.

Give us a call at 513.489.7800 to schedule an appointment, or use our online contact form to get in touch. We are accepting new patients. We can’t wait to meet you!