Many pediatricians as well as dental health care professionals suggest that a child should receive their first dental checkup before their first birthday. This is surprising to many parents, as your child may not even have a full mouth of teeth. Even if your child has only a few teeth, it is important that you get them in for an appointment.
The reason for such early dental care is because young children are highly susceptible to cavities. Most children have poor dental hygiene because they are unable to perform brushing/cleaning behaviors properly. In addition, children under the age of 2 often use toothpastes that are fluoride-free for their own safety. While these toothpastes are effective, they are not as effective at preventing cavities as fluoride toothpastes.
A dental checkup will help ensure your child’s teeth are coming in properly and that there are no significant problems. A dentist will also perform a cleaning as well as check for cavities and provide important care tips to help you care for your growing child’s teeth. The Columbia University College of Dental Medicine reports that 1 in every 4 children will have a cavity by age 4. Many of these children had a cavity before their second year.
If you have a young child in your care, it is important that he or she receives a dental checkup at least once a year. This will help you avoid stressful dental procedures that come with cavities, poor dental hygiene, and teeth that are not properly growing in. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.