New parents often wonder when they should start bringing their child to the dentist.To ensure your little one’s oral health is in top-notch shape, it is a good idea to get them started early. What age is best though? Many dentists agree that moms and dads should schedule their child’s first appointment by the time they turn one. This visit does not necessarily have to be scheduled separately, nor does professional tooth cleaning or x-rays have to be performed.
The appointment can often be performed at the end of a parent’s regularly scheduled cleaning appointment and takes only a few moments. The dentist is looking to see if there are any developmental abnormalities and that there is no tooth decay.
WHAT AGE CAN YOU BRING YOUR BABY TO THE DENTIST?
Have Your Baby’s Teeth Checked By His or Her First Birthday
A lot of people mistakenly assume that because their infant son or daughter are going to lose their baby teeth anyways, that it isn’t crucial to have them professionally cleaned at the clinic. This is simply not the case; although your child will indeed lose their first set of teeth over the next several years, you want to do everything in your power to make sure the transition is a successful one.
Healthy gum tissue and jawbone are essential for providing a strong foundation for your child’s eventual permanent teeth – not taking them to the dentist during their earliest stages of development can cause problems down the road, and can potentially harm their oral health.
No Later Than Two
In some instances, it can be safe to wait until your son or daughter has turned two before taking them to the dentist. Parents can safely postpone the first dental check-up under two conditions:
- If their baby has transitioned away from the breast or bottle;
- And if their baby doesn’t eat or drink anything in the middle of the night.
In those cases, it is safe to delay the initial appointment until the baby becomes a toddler.
However, age two is the latest any parent should wait to take their child to the dentist.Prevention is much more vital for kids than it is for adults, since their mouths are constantly growing and changing.
Your dentist will want to take an X-ray of your child’s mouth when they are between four and six years old, primarily to check for and address any potential cavities as soon as possible. They will determine the appropriate time based on your child’s genetic history and current stage of development. If the back teeth are touching (usually around age 4), then there is the potential for food to get caught between them and cavities to form. These cavities can only be detected with x-rays. Incidentally, when the back baby teeth contact the adjacent teeth, it is time to start flossing your child’s back teeth.
Contact the staff at Pearl Dental today if you have questions or concerns about your baby’s oral health. We are here to help!