Circle Drive Dental is a long-time Rochester dentist with lots of experience working with kids. If you have young children, you might be wondering when the right time is for their first dental visit. Here’s some helpful info courtesy of our team.

Most experts agree that a child is ready for their first visit to the dentist by age one, or within six months of getting his first tooth. This first visit is focused less on treatment and much more on making the child comfortable, including creating a rapport with the dentist. We create a bright, friendly environment in which your child can meet the dentist – with you in the room if you’d like – and get a very gentle oral exam. Depending on your child’s comfort level (and yours too), we may suggest that you wait in the reception area so that the dentist and your child can build a one-on-one bond.

Aside from the relationship-building aspect of your child’s first visit, our pediatric dentist will conduct a basic exam. This includes checking the child’s teeth for decay, inspecting the gums, jaw, and oral tissues, and examining your child’s bite. If necessary, the dentist will clean the child’s teeth and apply fluoride if it’s deemed appropriate. Specific to parents, we’ll talk with you about the basics of taking care of your kid’s teeth and discuss what you can expect to see as far as tooth and mouth development in the coming months.

As far as future appointments go, we recommend that your child see the dentist every six months. Not only is this important from a care perspective, i.e. monitoring the child’s teeth and addressing any developmental issues, it’s also beneficial for your child to develop a familiarity with the dentist and his surroundings.

One question we hear frequently is, “What’s the right age for kids to have their teeth brushed?” The answer is around age two or three, which is usually when the child has teeth that contact each other. It’s definitely a proud moment for a parent to see their kid’s teeth coming in – the only downside is that this is the time when food particles can start getting caught in your child’s teeth. Regarding flossing, we recommend speaking with one of our dentists about whether your child would benefit. Not every two or three-year-old needs their teeth flossed.

This is another frequently-asked question. We recommend that parents begin encouraging their child to brush their own teeth around age two, with parents making a “second pass” to hit the spots the child missed and to reinforce the importance of regular brushing. In fact, it’s a great idea to brush your teeth with your child so he can watch and learn from you.

For parents, this is the point at which good nutrition and healthy eating/drinking habits should be top-of-mind. Moving the child off of the bottle/sippy cup, promoting healthy snacks, and reducing sugar intake are all steps that will benefit your child and set the foundation for a healthy mouth.

Our family dentist in Rochester looks forward to meeting you and your child, and helping to establish good dental habits that will last a lifetime. Call us today to schedule an appointment.