When should your child first see a dentist? You can take your child at a younger age, but experts recommend taking him or her within 6 months of the first tooth coming in (erupting), orby about 12 months at the latest.
At this time, the dentist cangive youinformation on:
Baby bottle tooth decay
Infant feeding practices
Mouth cleaning
Teething
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Finger-sucking habits
Prepare your child
If possible, schedule morning appointments so young children are alert and fresh.
Prepare a preschooler or older child for the visit by giving him or her a general idea of what to expect. Explain why it is important to go to the dentist. Build excitement and understanding.
Prepare yourself
Discuss your questions and concerns with the dentist. Remember that your feeling toward dental visits can be quite different from your child's. Be honest with your view of the dentist. If you have dental anxieties, be careful not to relate those fears or dislikes to your child. Parents need to give moral support by staying calm while in the dental exam room. Children can pick up parents' anxieties and become anxious themselves.
Prepare the dentist
At the first visit, give thedentist your child's complete health history. For a restoration visit, such as getting a cavity filled, tell the dentist if your child tends to be stubborn, defiant, anxious, or fearful in other situations.
Watch how your child reacts.Many parents are able to guess how their child will respond and should tellthe dentist. Certain behaviors may be linked to your child's age:
10 to 24 months. Some securely attached children mayget upset when taken from their parents for an exam.
2 to 3 years. A securely attached child may be able to cope with a brief separation from parents. In a 2-year-old, "no" may be a common response.
3 years. Three-year-olds may not be OK being apart from a parent whenhaving a dental procedure such as getting a cavity filled. This is because most 3-year-olds are not socially mature enough to separate from parents.
4 years. Most children should be able to sit in another room from parents for exams and treatment procedures.
The first visit
Your child's first dental visit is to help your child feel comfortable with the dentist. The first dental visit is recommended by 12 months of age, or within 6 months of the first tooth coming in.The first visit often lasts 30 to 45 minutes. Depending on your child's age, the visit may include a full exam of the teeth, jaws, bite, gums, and oral tissues to check growth and development. If needed,your child may also have a gentle cleaning. This includes polishing teeth and removing any plaque, tartar, and stains. The dentist may show you and your child proper home cleaning such as flossing, and advise you on the need for fluoride. Baby teeth fall out, so X-rays aren’t often done. But your child's dentist may recommend X-rays to diagnose decay, depending on your child's age. X-rays are also used to see if the root of a jammed baby tooth may be affecting an adult tooth. In general, it is best that young children not havedental X-rays unless absolutely needed.
The second visit
Just like adults, children should see the dentist every6 months. Some dentists may schedule visits more often, such as every3 months. This can build comfort and confidence in the child. More frequent visits can also help keep an eye on a development problem.
Protect your children's teeth at home
Here are some tips to protect your children's teeth:
Before teeth come in, clean gums with a clean, damp cloth.
Start brushing with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and a very small amount of toothpaste (the size of a grain of rice) when your child's first tooth appears. Use a pea-sized dab of fluoridated toothpaste after3 years of age. This is when the child is old enough to spit out the toothpaste after brushing.
Prevent baby bottle tooth decay. Don't give children a bottle of milk, juice, or sweetened liquid at bedtime or when put down to nap.
Limit the time your child has a bottle. Your child should empty a bottle in 5 to 6 minutes or less.
Help your child brush his or her own teeth until age 7 or 8. Have the child watch you brush, and follow the same brushing pattern to reduce missed spots.
Limitfoods and treats that increase tooth decay. This includes hard or sticky candies, fruit leather, and sweetened drinks and juice. Offer fruit rather than juice. The fiber in fruit tends to scrape the teeth clean. Juice just exposes the teeth to sugar.
