A Child’s First Dental Visit
When should your child first see a dentist? We recommend taking your child for their first visit within 6 months of their first tooth coming in, or by about 12 months at the latest.
A simple check up is great for getting some more information from your dentist on things like: baby bottle tooth decay, infant feeding practices, mouth cleaning, teething, pacifier habits and finger-sucking habits.
Some things we recommend before your child first visit include:
Prepare your child, build excitement and understanding, and explain to them why it is important to see the dentist. At Sun Dental, we work to provide a calm and happy environment for your children.
Prepare yourself. If you have questions or concerns, make sure to come to your appointment ready to discuss those with your dentist.
On your child’s first visit, we focus on making them feel comfortable and confident. We typically do a full exam of the teeth, jaws, bite, gums, and oral tissues to check growth and development. If your child needs, we may do a gentle cleaning which also includes polishing the teeth and removing any plaque, tartar, and stains.
At Sun Dental, we also show you and your child proper home cleaning techniques such as flossing and brushing.
Some things we recommend for protecting your child’s teeth at home include:
-Before baby teeth come in, clean gums with a damp, clean cloth.
-Once baby teeth begin to come in, start brushing with a small, soft bristled brush, using a pea size dab of toothpaste once your child is old enough to spit out the toothpaste after brushing.
-Prevent baby bottle decay by making sure that you are not putting your child down for bed or nap time with milk, juice, or sweetened liquids.
-Model good oral hygiene by showing your child how to brush and care for their teeth.
-Limit food and treats that could cause tooth decay, such as hard or sticky candy, sweets, and sweetened juice and drinks. missed spots.
Book your child’s visit today! Call us (403) 327-3410