When is the First Dental Examination for Children?

The Age and Importance of the First Dentist Visit

Pedodontics (pediatric dentistry) specialists recommend that the first dental examination be performed with the eruption of the first milk tooth (usually when the baby reaches 6 months or 1 year of age) so that children have complete dental development. This visit, which is considered very early, actually provides families with accurate and professional information about the baby's diet and dental cleaning.

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay and Early Intervention

Putting children to sleep early on with a bottle, especially with sweetened milk, honey-added liquids, or fruit juices, can cause very common and rapidly progressing cavities called "Baby Bottle Tooth Decay." Early examinations play a major role in early detection of such risky habits by the physician and resolving them without causing serious damage.

Will Milk Teeth "Fall Out Anyway"?

Neglecting cavities in milk teeth with the popular belief that they "will fall out anyway" directly interrupts the child's nutrition, speech, and pronunciation development. More importantly, milk teeth act as a kind of guide in the bone for the permanent teeth coming from below by preserving their place. Early extraction may necessitate wire treatment (orthodontic).

Establishing a Tooth Brushing Habit

• In infancy, as soon as the teeth emerge, they should be cleaned by gently wiping them with a clean, damp cheesecloth or finger brushes recommended by the physician.
• Be sure to consult your physician to use an age-appropriate amount and feature of fluoride-free or age-appropriate toothpaste.
• By gamifying tooth brushing in young children and turning it into a fun routine, the child should be encouraged to adopt this valuable habit for life.