When Should My Child Start Going To The Dentist?

We receive many questions from parents and one of the most common is, “When should my child start going to the dentist?”

Woodlands Family Dental recommends you bring your child in for their first evaluation when they get their first tooth or reach their first birthday. Many parents may think this is too early, but it’s very important we have an opportunity to evaluate your child’s overall dental health. It also allows us to council you as the parent, and evaluate any undetected issues that may be caused from baby bottles, development or cavities in primary teeth.

When should children start regular dental visits?
At Woodlands Family Dental we offer a “Happy Visit”. This is a low stress introductory tour of our office. We want to build trust and make sure they leave with a smile.

By age 2, children should start regular, 6 month visits to the family dentist. By 24 months, most children have all of their primary teeth. This allows us to get a good idea of the child’s overall dental health and give us an opportunity to find any potential or underlying dental problems. This also helps reduce future stress and anxiety of dental visits that can lead to improved oral health for your children.

When should I start brushing my child’s teeth?
Begin brushing your child’s teeth as soon as they erupt and until they are 8 years old. Once teeth are out, they immediately start to attract bacteria. Toothpaste is not necessary at a very young age and we recommend simply using a soft washcloth, wet with water, to lightly wipe the teeth. A big concern with children and brushing is the chance they might swallow the toothpaste. Once your child is old enough to spit out the paste, you can introduce a small amount of children’s toothpaste and help them with their brushing routine.

What’s the best way to ensure my child has good oral health?
In addition to scheduling dental visits and helping your child brush their teeth, the most important thing you can do to help your child have good oral health is to practice good oral health yourself! Our children love to copy us. When we go to the dentist and when we brush and floss and rinse, we are modeling good oral health practices that our children are likely to follow. In addition, limit the amount of sugar your child consumes, know that most bottled water is depleted of Fluoride which is essential for hardening of the teeth. Lastly, observe them while they sleep. Mouth breathing makes teeth dry and dry teeth are highly susceptible to cavities.

Let us take care of your little one.
If you have not scheduled a dental visit for your children yet, it’s never to late to bring them in. At Woodlands Family Dental, our desire is that everyone in your family, from the oldest to the newest member, have a lifetime of good oral health. Call us at 281-681-9600 or 832-761-9000 or click here to schedule an appointment today.

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