When Should a Child Have Their First Dentist Appointment?

As a parent, you look forward to a lot of “firsts” in your child’s life. You watch for their first steps, you listen for their first words, and when those things happen, it’s exciting.

During the first few months and years of your child’s life, he or she will be growing a lot, too. There are many developmental milestones that your child will start to pass. One physical one is the development of baby teeth that can clue you in on when you should take them to start seeing a dentist. You might be wondering, when should a child have their first dentist appointment? 

When Do Children Start Developing and Losing Teeth?

When it comes to all the different developmental milestones that children experience, every child is different. But generally speaking, most children begin teething at around 3 months of age, and their first teeth typically begin to emerge from the gums around 6 months of age. These are baby teeth, also known as primary teeth or deciduous teeth, and they will eventually be lost as your child grows up and their adult teeth come in.

When you officially decide to begin taking your child to the dentist is ultimately your call. However, bringing him or her in for regular check-ups is beneficial starting around 6 months after they start getting teeth, which is typically around 1 year of age.

As your child begins to show the rest of their primary set of teeth, check-ups become more important. Around age 6 or 7 is when children begin to lose their primary teeth. As a result, regular check-ups become even more important. These check-ups help to ensure proper teeth health and to inspect growth direction to determine if corrective work is needed.

Ways to Help Them Have Good Oral Hygiene at Home

Visiting a professional regularly in the dental care industry is the best way to ensure optimal dental health for your child. However, no amount of visits will do your child any good if they aren’t keeping up with their dental care at home too. There are several ways that you can help them have good oral hygiene at home.

It is important to start building good habits early on and keep their teeth clean from the beginning. If you have a baby, as soon as they start showing teeth, make sure you start cleaning with water and either a soft toothbrush or cloth. At around a year and a half, you can introduce toothpaste (low-fluoride). You should continue to help your child brush their teeth until they can do it themselves, which is usually around 7 years of age.

Call Us at Coastal Dental

For families living in the Gosford area, our team at Coastal Dental can help you reach optimal dental health and dental care for your child. We specialize in children’s dentistry as well as a wide range of areas for adults. If you believe it’s time for your child’s first dentist visit, call us to book an appointment.