Your Baby’s First Visit to the Dentist
Baby’s 1st dental visit should be just after their first birthday. The first dental visit is usually short and involves an exam and cleaning. The dentist will evaluate adverse habits like thumb sucking and pacifier use and will discuss strategies for healthy teeth and gums. The dentist may apply topical fluoride to help protect the teeth against decay. If your child is younger than 3 years of age, we may ask you to sit in the dental chair and hold them during the visit.
Most important of all, we will review with you how to clean and care for your child’s teeth.
What should I tell my child about the first dental visit?
We are asked this question many times. We suggest you prepare your child the same way you would before their first haircut or trip to the shoe store. Your child’s reaction to his first visit to the dentist may surprise you.
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Here are some “First Visit” Tips:
- Read books about going to the dentist with your child.
- Watch YouTube videos of kids having positive dentist visit experiences.
- Review with your child what the dentist will be doing at the time of the first visit.
- Speak positively about your own dental experiences.
Tips for Cavity Prevention
- Limit frequency of meals and snacks.
- Encourage brushing twice a day and flossing every night.
- Avoid sugary and carbonated drinks.
- Avoid sticky foods.
- Make treats part of meals.
- Choose healthy snacks.
- Drink water when thirsty and throughout the day.
Baby teeth are important as they not only hold space for permanent teeth, but they are important to chewing, biting, speech and appearance. For this reason, it is important to maintain a healthy diet and daily hygiene.
