Many new parents wonder when they need to bring their child to see the dentist for the first time. It’s a great question.
Children’s primary teeth are critical to their health. They help kids chew properly so they can maintain the proper nutrition. They are involved in speech development. And having healthy teeth can also influence children’s self-esteem.
So making sure your child has good oral health services at an early age is very important.
Baby’s First Dental Visit
The sad truth is that many parents wait too long to bring their child to the dentist for the first time. According to the American Association of Pediatric Dentist, the average age of a child’s initial dental visit in the US is 2.6 years.
By that time, a child’s teeth have already begun to grow significantly. So if there are issues that haven’t been addressed, it could set them up for future dental problems that could have been avoided if they had received the care they needed at an earlier age.
On the flipside, you don’t need to bring your child to the dentist before they actually have teeth. Most children will start to grow their primary teeth at about six months of age. By the time they are 12 months old and most of their primary teeth have come in, it may be time to schedule your child’s first dental appointment.
Benefitting Children and their Parents Alike
Bringing your child to the dentist at an early age has a number of important benefits. First, it lets your dentist address any problems before they worsen.
Second, it acclimates your child to visiting the dentist regularly so they don’t experience the anxiety many other children have when they are older. Finally, it helps parents and children learn together about the proper way for children to care for their teeth.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to schedule your child’s first dental appointment. Getting them in to see the dentist early can improve their oral health significantly.
