When to take your baby to the dentist for the first time

Dental tips
Written By Jeff Joy
 
 
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Getting your child to the dentist as early as possible can set up healthy habits that last a lifetime. So when should your baby come and see us for the first time, what should you expect, and how do you prepare?

 

Your baby’s first dentist visit

Your baby doesn’t need a full set of baby teeth to visit the dentist – in fact, most oral health experts agree that you should take your child to their first dentist visit after their first baby tooth erupts. 

Generally speaking, this will be at around six months of age, although even if the first tooth is slow to come in or you miss that moment, try to bring your baby in to see a dentist by their first birthday.


Why visit the dentist so early in their life?

The reality is, if your child has teeth then they are at risk of oral health problems. And even if they don’t have teeth, they could still develop certain issues with their gums that affect the growth of their teeth in future.

Learn more: “Gum disease”

In Northland, tooth decay is particularly prevalent in young children making it all the more important to get in fast. In fact, Northland DHB says that our young kids have higher rates of tooth decay on average than kids from the rest of the country. We really do have a duty to help our kids to take advantage of NZ’s free dental care for young people and give our tamariki the best start in life.


When do baby teeth start coming in?

You can expect your baby’s lower front teeth to start coming in first, followed by a mixture of both upper and lower front teeth and then increasingly more teeth at the back of the mouth.

Typically, their first baby teeth will pop out at around six months as we mentioned above. By the time they turn one year old you will likely see most if not all the rest of their incisors (incisors being the four front teeth on the top and bottom). Canines can come in at around one and a half to two years old, and premolars and molars usually come in between 14 months and three years (premolars first, molars in the years thereafter).

Of course, every baby is different. Your child may be faster or slower than other babies, and that’s OK. If you’re ever worried, you can always visit the dentist and ask for advice.

Learn more: “Teething pain”


When will baby teeth start falling out?

If your child has all their baby teeth by around age three, when do they start falling back out again?

Well, for most children this process begins at age six. Between this point and usually around 12 years, all of their baby teeth should come out to be replaced by permanent adult teeth. This will also increase the number of total teeth in their mouth from 20 to 32 (assuming all four wisdom teeth come in OK).

Learn more: “Wisdom teeth”


What if I missed the first visit and my baby is older?

That’s OK! While it’s definitely best to get your child into the dentist’s chair right from those early days, booking an appointment as soon as possible even if they have passed the six-month mark is still a great way to get ahead of their oral health.

Essentially, what we’re doing here now while your child is young is setting up their oral health future. Their experience with the dentist now can shape their healthy teeth habits, the future health of their adult teeth, and their confidence (or anxiety) at visiting the dentist. So it really does pay to get in quick and build those positive habits now.


What to expect at your baby’s first dentist visit


The benefit of going in early

This first dental visit is all about setting your child up for the future. So it’s as much about examining their teeth as it is about simply getting them used to the idea of going to the dentist in the first place.

In fact, that’s one of the main benefits of starting so young. Not only can we keep an eye on the development of their teeth and jaw (as the growth of their jaw itself could impact their oral health), you will also be establishing that it’s OK to visit the dentist and that it’s a good habit to form. This will be very helpful later in their life!


What the dentist will do

This first trip will probably last around 30-45 minutes. There are a few things we’ll want to achieve, including:

  • Asking you about your child’s dental history (if any).

  • Talking with you about any symptoms you may have noticed that feel ‘wrong’ – perhaps redness in the gums, teething troubles, bleeding or swelling, crooked growth, etc.

  • Examining your child’s teeth, jaw, bite and gums to see how things are developing and look for any problems.

  • Gently cleaning your child’s teeth (or tooth, if you’ve come in right away) and giving them a polish.

  • Offering personalised advice for cleaning and flossing your child’s teeth as they continue to erupt.


How your child might react

We can’t always predict how children will react to visiting the dentist, and even now writing this article we can only give general guidance based on our experience. Your child is unique and you know them best!

It’s very common for children to be wriggly in the dentist's chair. This is their first time, after all, and they might not be feeling very comfortable. Babies and very young children may also not like being examined at all, especially if they aren’t on their parent’s lap. This can make them stubborn or refuse examination. Needless to say, we may require your help here to comfort your child and let them know that it’s OK.

As your child gets older, and assuming they don’t develop any strong anxieties, they will likely become more tolerant of being separated from you for short periods of time while we examine them or perform any procedures.

 
 
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How to prepare for the visit

Preparing a young baby

Here are our quick tips for preparing a young baby for the dentist:

  • Try to book a morning appointment so they aren’t too tired. We all know what tired babies can be like!

  • Ask your dentist’s reception staff what paperwork you might need to fill out. Anything you can fill out in advance will cut down the amount of time you spend in the waiting room.

  • Think about any questions you might have – or advice you want – in advance to make your appointment a little easier.

  • Try to feed your baby before the visit so they aren’t hungry during. This advice goes for older children, too.

  • Act as friendly and kind as possible with your dentist, as any conflict between you both may cause anxiety in your child. If you are worried about something and do wish to confront your dentist, try to do it at a different time - when your child isn’t around.


Preparing an older child

For children who are a little older, there are a few other things you can try:

  • Speak with them about the trip so they know what to expect. You can even show them videos of first visits so it’s not a big unknown – they’ll see the chair, see the examination, and hopefully feel a little more at ease.

  • Encourage them to practice opening their mouth nice and wide so it’s not a new experience when your dentist asks them to do it. Feel free to join in practising too to help them!

  • When talking about the dentist, try to be calm and avoid negativity. While you may have fears or anxieties of your own, which is perfectly normal, you could accidentally pass these on to your child. Stay positive and it will give them a chance to form their own opinion.

Learn more: “Dental anxiety”

 
 


So what happens next?

After the first visit, we would encourage you to bring your baby back to the dentist at least twice a year (every six months). This will help us keep track of your child’s development and spot problems before or as they arise.

Between those appointments, their oral health is up to you! Here is some fast baby dental health tips:

  • Before baby teeth come in, you can clean their gums with a soft, damp cloth.

  • Brush their teeth with a baby-friendly toothbrush (small in size, soft bristles) and use only a tiny amount of toothpaste – no more than a grain of rice. You can increase the amount of toothpaste when they have more teeth and are old enough to spit.

  • Limit their sugar intake throughout their childhood to try and keep them away from this bad habit. There are lots of healthy alternatives and it really can save their teeth!

  • To prevent baby bottle tooth decay, try to avoid giving your baby anything sweetened (milk, juice or something similar) at bed or naptime.

Need an appointment for your child? call us on 09 430 0707 or book online.

 
 
 
Jeff Joy
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