There is no single answer as to a particular age all children should visit the dentist. Each child is an individual with different eating habits, levels of understanding and development. In order to get your child ready for that first visit, which is often a school health requirement, I highly recommend that you help your child get familiar with dental hygiene. Parents should first clean their children’s teeth by using a gauze square or Q-tip as soon as teeth erupt. When able, a very small amount of paste, to avoid swallowing the excess, should be applied to the gauze or Q-tip. I recommend a something mild and non-minty like Tom’s Silly Strawberry. Once the child shows interest, he or she should be encouraged to participate gradually shifting to a soft toddler toothbrush. As time goes on, the child should be willing to do it independently. Brushing with a parent or sibling will encourage this.
Some children are fearful of the Pediatrician and can often transfer that fear to early dental appointments. To help prevent this, a child hold be introduced to our dental office by showing them our air-spray and suction (“Mr. Thirsty”). A ride in the chair in their parent’s lap can be a fun experience. At future visits, usually several months down the road, we can attempt a polishing (cleaning) of the teeth with child friendly pastes.
Each child gets ready for the dental experience in their own time frame. Patience and understanding on our dental staff’s part will help mold each child into a patient who does not have fear or anxiety when they go to the dentist as an adult.
