First Dental Checkup

by J. K. Hackbarth, DDS

I'm often asked "When should I first bring my child in for a dental checkup?" The answer depends on the maturity level of your child. For most children age two to three is a good place to start. If you notice anything which doesn't look right, then you should bring them sooner. Before the use of fluoride toothpaste and fluoridation of water, the average child had cavities by age two. However, presently this is not so. Today most young children have healthy mouths.

When a child starts getting his first tooth you should begin brushing. This prevents the starting of decay. As a child gets older and becomes interested in brushing, you should let him brush and then go over the teeth yourself to insure a complete job. Many children need help in brushing until they are five to six years old.. When your child begins to do a good brushing job on his own, be sure to periodically inspect his mouth to insure this continues. Remember, it is important to establish good habits early. Setting up brushing times in the morning and evening and sticking to them everyday will develop good habits your child will keep for a lifetime.

As you probably know, it is never a good practice to put your baby to bed with a bottle. If you do, only give water. The constant exposure to any other drink can lead to decay of the child's teeth even as they grow in. This is a serious problem. Also sucking on a bottle for long periods of time can cause the shifting of teeth causing them to protrude and your child can develop an early malocclusion (bad bite). Constant sucking on a bottle or thumb may even cause changes in the growth of the jaws.

One of the great values of an early dental visit is getting your child accustomed to visiting the dentist. If he is old enough to get his teeth cleaned, an easy cleaning and polishing will help him be comfortable with the dentist working in his mouth and if any other type of work is ever needed it will be easier for him at that time. You should explain to your child that they are going to see the dentist and tell him that the dentist will want to look at his teeth. You might also mention that the dentist might brush his teeth with a special brush and toothpaste. It is also a good idea to keep friends or family members from talking about other treatment. Many children arrive with preconceived ideas that the dentist will be doing any number of horrible things to them. This type of fear is unnecessary as well as a hindrance to your child.

If your follow these simple guidelines it will surely help your child along the road to a lifetime of good dental health.

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