Experts Recommend Parents Schedule Toddlers for Dental Visits

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that infants between 6 and 12 months should be seen by a dentist. While it may seem unnecessary to take infants who have few teeth to the dentist, there are several reasons and benefits for doing so.

One eye opening statistic is that over 39 percent of children entering kindergarten have tooth decay. This is not a good start for these children when it comes to dental hygiene. Studies have revealed that decay in baby teeth is a good predictor for decay later in adult teeth. Once tooth decay starts at an early age it is very hard to get under control. This is why it is so important to get a head start on dental hygiene for your child.

Taking your toddler to the dentist at an early age will get them accustomed to the process and become more familiar with the equipment involved. This also gives the parents a chance to learn about their child's dental health as well. They can learn about proper hygiene as well as warning signs of dental problems or pain. This is also a good time to get the infant familiar with a toothbrush.

Below are some tips for parents on taking care of their infant children's teeth:

• Begin brushing your child's teeth as soon as they come in. This will help them acclimate to the brushing process. Use a soft toothbrush. This is very important because they will grow up with the expectation that brushing is something that is simply done every day. They will grow up also to have a better discipline around brushing as well.
• Limit the child's sugar intake and keep their sugar ingestion confined to when they eat. Teaching children about moderation of sweets early is a lesson that will benefit them throughout their lives. This will also help with their overall health too. That’s something that really matters and this should be done regardless of oral health.
• Get your child drinking from a cup as soon as you can, definitely after they are a year old. Children’s teeth can be disturbed very easily and bottle feeding longer than you should can certainly cause many issues that will cost you lots of money later. Many people don’t realize the damage it can cause.

Early dental visits are not only for the children, as the parents can expect to learn a great deal about their infant's dental health. Some topics parents should be learning from their child's dental hygienist are proper tooth brushing procedure, teething, diet and its effect on teeth, and how to prevent dental injuries.

So be sure to schedule a visit with a dental hygienist for you and your infant. It is a good way to get a head start on your child's health and to arm yourself with information on proper dental care for your child.

You can never be too careful with your child's oral mouth care and it is never too early to begin.