Newport Beach parents, if you have a young child in the home, you might be wondering when the ideal time is to take them for their first dental checkup. In this article, we’ll address that, as well as some other questions common with first-time or inexperienced parents.
Your Child’s First Dental Visit
It is commonly agreed upon by dental professionals that you should visit the dentist with your child no later than six months after the first tooth becomes visible. Age two is the latest you should wait before that first appointment. At this point, some parents ask “Well, if my child has so few teeth, why do I need to go at such a young age?” The answer is that this first appointment is mostly to help the child begin to learn about the importance of oral hygiene. The examination will likely be cursory, to see if there is any bottle rot and that the teeth are starting to come in properly.
This first visit is about building awareness and trust. The dentist will show the child the tools that they use, explain the purpose of each, and begin to establish a rapport. This should help to alleviate the child’s fears when they start to have tooth cleanings. If dental anxiety can be avoided, it will be better for the child, the parents, and the dental professionals in the office.
What About After That First Visit?
After the first visit to the dentist, Newport Beach children should visit every six months. If there is ever an issue like grinding of the teeth, mouth breathing, or a lisp, then it will be advisable to come in earlier. If there are no problems like that, then on the second visit the dentist will begin to work on the child’s teeth. The teeth will be counted and brushed with cleaning paste. Generally, it is not until the age of three or the third visit that more advanced treatments like fluoride use will begin.
There’s no reason to be worried about bringing your child to the dentist Newport Beach parents. Children will usually follow the example of their adult role models, and if the child can see that there is nothing to fear, then they will adopt that attitude as well. As parents, you can stress to the child how proud you are of their patience when they go to the dentist, and how grown up they are becoming. This can be the start of a lifetime of good hygiene for your progeny.