Child Dental Visits: Why They Matter
February 13 2022 by Mills Haven Dental
Preventive dentistry is especially important in children. Their bodies change quickly from month to month, and so does their dental hygiene! You need to make sure your family regularly visits your dentist to keep everyone as healthy as possible.
How Often to Visit
So, when should your child’s first visit happen? You should take your kid to the dentist within 6 months after their first tooth has pushed through the gums.
After that, schedule your child to see the dentist every 6 months or as per your dentist’s recommendation. Six months is the sweet spot to keep your child’s teeth as healthy as possible.
Reasons to Take Your Child
There are many reasons you should take your child to the dentist regularly. Here are just a few of them:
Dental Hygiene Check-In
Children aren’t always the most willing participants in a dental hygiene routine. They might fight you when it comes time to brush and floss their teeth. Or, maybe they’re eager to do it themselves… those little hands are still building up motor skills, so they might not be the best at brushing every tooth thoroughly.
Checking in with your dentist about your kid’s dental hygiene habits is a good idea. They’ll be able to tell if your kid’s habits are progressing nicely, or if your family needs to rethink the brush & floss routine.
Catch Tooth Decay
Kids get cavities. Even despite your best efforts as a parent, your children are likely going to experience some tooth decay throughout their younger years.
We often have parents question the importance of getting fillings when their child still has baby teeth (also known as primary teeth). The fact is, we don’t know when a primary tooth will fall out. Some of these teeth will be in your child’s mouth until they are 12 years old, and in rare cases even longer. You need to make sure you treat every tooth like it could be there for a while.
Leaving tooth decay alone can cause serious problems for your child’s health and even self-esteem. Make sure you address any tooth decay immediately and follow your dentist’s advice.
Early Detection of Bigger Problems
While your child is growing up their mouth will go through some major changes. These are formative years for dental health; teeth shift and bites change.
Regular visits to the dentist will mean your child will have regular x-rays and assessments. Your dentist will be able to give you a heads-up if you should start saving for orthodontics, like braces, and also detect anything that could be alarming early on.
A Great Lesson
Many people have a severe fear of the dentist. We’ve been taught through movies and horror stories that the dentist is somewhere you experience great pain. That couldn’t be further from the tooth—ahem, the truth!
Teach your child from an early age that going to the dentist is a part of life and nothing to fear. Just make sure you choose a dental office with all the necessary qualifications and licensing.