At what age should a child make his first trip to the dentist?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends it when the child gets his first tooth and not later than age one.

In contrast, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests it’s not necessary until age 3, unless the child has risk factors for having problems with teeth, such as sleeping with a cup or bottle, teeth staining or thumb sucking.

“Most people think that children are going to lose their baby teeth, so what does it matter. But if they have problems with their teeth, it can lead to poor nutrition, poor self esteem, problems with speech and diet; um and plus the fact if they do get infection, it can affect the adult teeth that are developing underneath,” explains dentist Dr. Richard Rivman.

“Once they get a little bit older around 3 years old you can put a little toothpaste on, about the size of a pea, and make sure though they do spit it all out, they don’t need to swallow the fluoride,” he adds.

When teeth first come in, parents can wrap a moist washcloth around their finger and gently wipe the child’s teeth.  Once kids have graduated to a toothbrush, parents should make sure they’re brushing twice a day, morning and night, for about three minutes.

Just like adults, children should be seen twice a year for check-ups and cleanings. 

When children start to lose their baby teeth, it’s important for parents to keep track of the developing adult teeth.  Watch for problems such as crowding and cross bite and make sure the dentist knows as soon as a problem is found.