The first dental visit is a big deal, but a lot of parents do it a little later than they should. There’s a belief that the first trip to the pediatric dentist near me in Mill Creek is when the teeth first come through, and that could be as late as the first birthday.
However, you can go to the dentist at a younger age. The more you go, the better it is for your child as they get older, as they become used to the sights and sounds in the dental practice. So, when is the right time, and how much can early visits help?
The First Visit Should Be Within the First Year
You want to do the first visit to a pediatric dentist near me in Mill Creek within the first year of life. So, sure, the first birthday could be a good time, but you want to do it a little earlier. Some people will recommend going at six months, even if there are no teeth out just yet.
If you want to wait for the teeth, that’s fine, but you need to do that first visit within six months of the first tooth pushing through. This can be as early as two months and some babies are even born with teeth, which is why a visit at six months old is a good idea.
Sure, baby teeth are the temporary ones. It means a lot of people put off that first visit, but the early visits are a great way to set up for a good routine in the future. It’s also a great way to check on the health of the gums and the permanent teeth that will eventually come through.
Early Dental Visits Are More Than Oral Health Care
When you get the early visits to the pediatric dentist near me in Mill Creek in, you’re setting your child up for success. Sure enough, there is an oral health care element to the early visits, as baby teeth can get cavities. It’s not just about looking out for the oral health, though.
These early visits are good mentally. A lot of children can develop a fear of the dentist. They hear the awful sounds of the drill, or they may hear of how much you hate going to the dentist. This creates fears for them that they don’t even understand, and it can put them off going when they are older.
With the earlier visits, you set them up for success. They’re used to the sound, and they’re used to the dentist, so future visits aren’t going to freak them out.
Pediatric Dentists Can Help with Lifestyle Choices
A pediatric dentist near me in Mill Creek is there to help with the oral care, and that involves more than just a visit every six months. With early visits, a pediatric dentist will get to understand your routines and the type of foods you eat. This is something they can use to inform children of healthier lifestyle choices.
They can go through brushing and flossing techniques, and they can talk about diet choices and habits like thumb-sucking. Sure, you can go through all this too, but you know children are more likely to listen to a pediatric dentist near me in Mill Creek rather than mom!
