One of the most common dental questions that new mothers have is, “When do I first take my baby in for a dental checkup?” Your baby’s 20 primary teeth are already in the jaw at birth and began coming through the gums around 6 months. Because of this, the ADA recommends a dental visit before they turn one. Try to schedule the first dental visit when the first tooth appears. The purpose of this first visit is for the dentist to examine your baby’s mouth to check growth and development and also to help make you child comfortable visiting the dentist from a young age. There are many ways to help make the visit a positive experience for your child. The first is schedule the appointment in the morning when your child is rested and cooperative. The second is to be a strong parent and keep any anxiety or concerns you have to yourself. Your child can and will pick up on your emotions. At the visit, your dentist will examine the mouth for injuries, cavities and other problems. Your dentist will also let you know if your child is at risk of developing tooth decay and give you tips for baby’s dental hygiene as they clean the teeth. They will also inform you about teething, pacifier use or finger/thumb sucking habits.
