When Should Kids First Start Going To The Dentist?

When should kids first start going to the dentist? When should they go for the very first time? I bet baby’s first dentist visit is earlier than you think! Teaching your kids proper oral health early in their lives will make the process much easier as they grow!

Dentist smiling at child in dental chair with mirror in the child's mouth with child's mother looking on

Your child’s first dental visit is needed sooner than you think. Regular dental visits are so important to establish great dental health for children of a young age and to encourage great care of permanent teeth later on as your kids grow. I’ve got a ton of tooth care suggestions and some of the best ways we have found to help take care of our kids’ teeth at home! So, to maintain a healthy smile and healthy teeth, when should kids first start going to the dentist?

Disclaimer

I am not a dentist or any other kind of medical professional. This information is from my own experience as a mom, and the rest I have researched. All advice comes from The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. All of this information is simply advice from one mama to another mama.

First Trip To The Dentist

Little girl in dentist chair and hygienist with small mirror

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, your child’s first trip to the dentist should be sometime between when they get their first tooth and their first birthday. So, as soon as you see that first baby tooth, get to making a dentist’s office appointment! As new parents, there is so much to do and remember, but it’s important to let the dentist make sure the new baby teeth are coming in correctly and that there are no problems with the teeth as they are coming into your baby’s mouth. Plus, it gets your child into a routine of going to the dentist super early as well! It’s important to teach your kids early that a frequent dental checkup is helpful to keep your teeth healthy and strong.

Baby’s First Teeth

Your baby’s first teeth will start to come in around 6 months of age, and by their first birthday, they will have 4 teeth usually. Two top front teeth and two bottom front teeth. By age 3, your child will usually have all their baby teeth.

Baby Tooth and Dental Care

Taking care of your children’s teeth when they are babies is more important than you’d think. You want to make sure to brush their gums and teeth twice a day to avoid any early tooth decay. As they are starting to eat foods now, it’s important to keep those pearly whites clean! Plus, getting them in the routine of brushing their teeth when they are this young will set you up for success as they grow because they will know that brushing teeth is simply a part of the routine of the day! Just remember to be gentle. The Baby’s teeth and gums are likely sore and tender from all the teething.

Tooth chart diagram for first tooth losses and new tooth growth

Toddler Tooth and Dental Care

As your child grows, your child’s teeth and need for dental care grow too! The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends your child sees their dentist every 6 months unless otherwise specified by your dentist. Make sure they are brushing at least twice a day and introduce flossing as you can. It’s important to get them used to all the recommended tooth care as early as you can to ensure good habits down the road.

First Trip To The Dentist – How to Prepare

small child sitting in mom's lap showing dentist her teeth

Schedule Enough Time

If you think your child will have a tough time going to the dentist or may be afraid, try to schedule a “double” appointment. Some dental offices will automatically do this for the first visit, but check to make sure. This means you have twice the time as a normal visit to get your child used to their surroundings and get comfortable with the idea of having their teeth looked at by the dentist. It gives them time to check out all the dental tools and equipment in the room.

What to Expect

Kid in dental chair with hygienist cleaning teeth

Generally, during a dental exam for kids, the dental hygenist and/or dentist will have a quick look at your child’s teeth, check your child’s bite, remove any plaque that has built up, brush their teeth and floss their teeth. They will also be looking for any dental problems that need to be addressed as well.

Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse

Prepare your child for exactly what’s coming at the dentist’s office. You can watch videos on YouTube together (watch them by yourself first to make sure it’s a good experience for the child in the video!) and help them prepare for their first visit. Another good way to prepare is to let them play with toys that model the dentist’s office.

Here are some excellent toys to consider for your kids:

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The Waiting Room

I like to arrive early and let the kids play in the waiting room for a bit so they can get used to their surroundings and know that the dentist’s office can be a fun place to go. It’s a chance to see other kids waiting to see the dentist as well, and a sign for them to know that this is an ok place to be.

The Dental Chair

The dental chair might look a little scary and intimidate some kids. Let them explore and take their time getting comfortable. Maybe show them some clips on YouTube of a young patient at the dentist, so they know what to expect from their dentist’s office. Let them see they can lay down and get comfy and even watch some TV maybe in the dentist’s chair! Our dentist has TVs on the ceiling and it’s amazing!

Losing Their First Teeth

Kid that has just pulled out their first tooth

Your child will lose their primary teeth that are in the front first. Usually, they lose the bottom front two teeth, then the top front two teeth. Both my kids lost the four bottom front teeth first, then the top front four teeth. This will all happen between ages 6-8 generally.

Permanent Tooth Care

Small pre-k girl brushing giant teeth with giant toothbrush at the dentist's office

Another important reason you want to take your child to the dentist early and often is so that they can learn great dental hygiene and how to properly take care of their teeth. Once they start getting permanent teeth, you’ll want to make sure you ask your dentist about getting a fluoride treatment during your visits. That can help your child’s teeth stay even more healthy.

Special Needs Tooth Care

Both of my children have Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder. So, everyday things like brushing your teeth and oral health can be a HUGE challenge sometimes.

Special Needs Trips To The Dentist

Cartoon image of boy sitting in dentist chair and hygienist showing him her tools for cleaning teeth

For my special needs kids, just brushing their teeth can be a challenge, so you can imagine, that going to the actual dentist is a whole different ballgame. There are a ton of things to consider, but I do have some great tips on how to make regular visits as easy as possible for your child.

Time Your Visit

When is the best time for your dental visit? If your child is a morning person but tends to meltdown in the afternoons, definitely don’t schedule afternoon dental appointments. Make sure you take into account your child’s needs and set them up for as much success as possible for their dentist visit. Tell the office staff when you are scheduling what the right time is for your child, and then they can find an appointment that will work for everyone.

Special Needs Training

Try to make sure you find a dentist’s office that specializes in special needs children. Not all dental professionals will be created equal and some are just better than others with special needs kids. Some even have additional training to ensure they work well with special needs children. I made sure our office was affiliated with our local children’s hospital. Because of our kids’ special needs, it is likely if they had to have any dental work done in their young years, it would require sedation and general anesthesia. So I wanted to make sure we had a dentist’s office that was prepared for that and worked with or at the hospital if needed.

Rewards

If you know that going to the dentist is especially hard for your child, or if you anticipate that it will be, don’t be afraid to offer some rewards for going to the dentist’s office and doing a great job. Maybe you off an amount of money that they may have after they are done, and a trip to the toy store to see what new item your child could get with that reward money. I’m sure that some experts would not agree that rewarding going to the dentist is a smart thing to do, but I would disagree.

The point is to get your child comfortable going to the dentist and to get some successful first trips to the dentist under your belts. And if a small reward will do that trick, I say reward away Mama!

Recommended Equipment and Tools

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Wrap Up – When Should Kids First Start Going To The Dentist?

It’s essential to teach your children good oral hygiene and good dental habits. Preventative care can often help you avoid painful and expensive problems in the long run. Regular check-ups should be part of your child’s dental and health plan each year. Don’t panic if the first dentist visit is a total flop either. It happens! Just take your time and let your child do the same, and you’ll be pros at going to the dentist before you know it. I hope this advice helps! As always Mamas, just keep shuffling!

When Should Kids First Start Going To The Dentist?

Disclaimer

First Trip To The Dentist