According to the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, parents should take their children to the dentist for the first time within six months of their first tooth eruption. This typically means by their first birthday. This early allows your dentist to professionally assess your child’s early dental, periodontal, and jawbone development.
When Should Kids Start Regularly Seeing a Dentist?
ADA research states that children are vulnerable to cavities as soon as they have teeth. However, barring emergencies or clear irregularities, after that initial visit, another visit generally isn’t required until around three years of age. From that point, regular dental appointments are recommended to monitor development and ensure that children receive the vital preventive and corrective care needed to avoid cavities and identify potentially serious issues early on.
Additionally, these early appointments help establish a rapport between a child and their dentist, which can be foundational in establishing a lifelong commitment to strong oral hygiene.
A Caring and Experienced Children’s Dentist in Bear Lake, MN
If you're looking for a dentist in the Bear Lake area to help everyone in your family enter the new school year with brilliant, healthy smiles, rather than just Googling "children's dentist near me" and taking your chances, contact Dr. Ellen Swift, DDS, and the excellent White Bear Smiles team to schedule an appointment!