Your Child’s First Dental Visit: A Parent’s Guide to a Lifetime of Healthy Smiles
- AdminWD
- Sep 22
- 3 min read
Dental care begins even before the first tooth appears. It starts with building positive habits from an early age.
We often get asked by parents, “What age should I bring my baby in for their first check-up?” and are often surprised we encourage the first dental visit anytime after the first tooth erupts, but ideally before the first birthday. These early visits are to check that teeth are developing correctly and address any concerns. We help establish good habits with a strong focus on prevention of disease, especially dental decay. Research suggests that early visits to the dentist, before the age of two, can significantly reduce the amount of dental treatment due to dental decay needed as your child gets older.
Early visits also help children to see the dentist as a safe, friendly place - nothing to be feared. At Watagan Dental, we make the appointments as fun as possible, playing games with little ones to create an enjoyable environment. TVs on the ceiling and headphones help kids to relax and zone out when needed.
We encourage little ones to sit and watch a parent or older siblings have their teeth checked first. Afterwards, they can have a ride in the dental chair on mum or dad’s lap. As they grow more confident, we encourage them to sit on the chair by themselves, slowly working up to gentle tooth polish and eventually a full cleaning. We always work at your child’s pace and within their comfort zone to make every visit a positive one.
What to Watch For at Home
One of the easiest things you can do is gently lift your child’s top lip to check for white areas on the tooth near the gum line. These “white spot lesions” are the earliest signs of tooth decay. If caught early, the decay process can often be stopped or reversed, meaning no further treatment is needed. If left to progress, however, your child may require fillings or even tooth extractions, with a potential risk of infection.
During a check-up, we also look for other issues like tongue-ties (which can affect speech and eating) and airway concerns, such as mouth breathing or enlarged tonsils.
How Often Should My Child Visit the Dentist?
Every child’s needs are different. As a general rule, six-monthly visits are ideal for young children. This helps solidify those good habits and keeps them familiar with the dental environment, reducing anxiety. After each appointment, your dental professional will recommend a schedule tailored to your child. We might suggest three-monthly visits for a child who is particularly anxious or at high risk of decay, or annual visits for a child at low risk.
Our Top Tips for Healthy Little Smiles
Clean twice a day. Use a soft toothbrush, a clean, damp face cloth, or a silicone finger brush to clean your baby’s gums and teeth twice daily. A sticker chart is a great way to keep older toddlers engaged!
Introduce toothpaste at 18 months. Before this, use water only. After 18 months, use a tiny smear (the size of a grain of rice) of age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste. Make a game out of spitting in the bath to help them learn.
Limit snacking. Constant grazing, even on healthy foods, increases the acid level in the mouth and raises the risk of decay. We recommend no more than 5 meals a day, with only water between meals.
Choose drinks wisely. Avoid juice and soft drinks, which are high in acid and sugar. Water and plain milk are the best choices for healthy teeth.
Embrace dairy. Cheese and plain yoghurt are fantastic snacks. They are high in calcium, which helps protect the tooth surface and build strong teeth and bones.
Avoid bottles in bed. Putting your baby to sleep with a bottle of milk or juice can lead to severe tooth decay. Transition them away from this habit as early as possible.
Ready to book your child's first fun and friendly visit to a dentist in Cooranbong? Click here to book online, or give us a call on (02) 4977 1222.
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