First Visit to the Dentist
Dental professionals say that a child should have their first visit to the dentist at age 1 or within six months of the eruption of their first tooth. Mostly this is to guide parents on the best way to brush a toddler's teeth, to examine the gum and jaw for potential problems, and probably the most important: for the child to get acquainted with the dentist and the clinic and get familiar with the place in a non-threatening manner. Short, successive visits helps to build a child's trust in the dentist and the dental office, and helps to reduce anxiety if your child needs to be treated later for any dental problem.
Many parents do not realize how important dental health is at this point, thinking that it can't be important with so few teeth present. But because small children have frequent meals and cannot brush their own teeth yet, parents need to be more proactive to prevent cavities from forming. Know Your Teeth has answers to some of the frequently asked questions on children oral health.