Dentists worldwide recommend that a child must go to the dentist by age one or within six months after the first tooth erupts. Primary teeth typically begin growing in the mouth around six months of age.
Importance of primary teeth
It is very important to keep primary (or “baby”) teeth in place until they are lost naturally. The primary teeth are important for many reasons including:
- Helping children chew properly to maintain good nutrition.
- Involvement in speech development.
- Helping save space for permanent teeth.
- Promoting a healthy smile that helps children feel good about the way they look.
“Many people don’t understand how important their children’s baby teeth are to lifelong oral health,” and unfortunately the reason given is the child is too young to see the dentist. There’s a continuing need for more education to teach practices, such as proper techniques for brushing and flossing, that will ensure lifelong oral health. The first dentist visit is a great opportunity for parents to learn how best to care for their children’s teeth.
Give your child a preview
Take your child with you for your next check up to see you having your teeth examined and cleaned. It is important that the child gets accustomed to the office environment and the staff.
Plan your children’s dentist visit properly so that they get proper time to calm down they feel relaxed, and the visit is not rushed thus it eases the tension built in the child.
From the first visit onward, it is recommended that children come in every six months unless an issue comes up that needs correction, such as habits tongue thrusting, teeth grinding, lisp or mouth breathing. At first, expect the dentist to familiarise the child with the surroundings and the instruments that they will use in the child’s mouth; this method is called show and tell.
Followed by the second visit, the dentist may count your child’s teeth and brush them with polishing paste, then possibly add in fluoride at the visit after that.
The first relationship your child has with a dentist can leave a lasting impression. It’s never too early to start taking your children to the dentist. To schedule your child’s first dental visit, Prosmiles dentist in Melbourne or call us today.