There is no set time to start seeing the dentist, but it's a good rule of thumb to take your child to the dentist when they have most of their primary teeth in place. Whether you start taking your child at 2, 3, or 4 is up to you, but, in general, most people start taking their children to the dentist around 3 years old. This way, your children will get used to going to the dentist and be able to handle the situation if there is a need for more extensive treatment. 

Brushing and Flossing Daily Helps Children Protect Their Teeth

Teaching children to brush and floss their teeth daily is essential to good oral health. This can be done using children's toothpaste, and special flossing devices that your child can hold on their own. While it's up to the parent to make sure the children clean their teeth thoroughly, it's possible to allow the child to try cleaning their teeth on their own, first. When you get your child into a daily routine of brushing and flossing their teeth twice a day, the healthy habit will carry on into adulthood.

Go to Have their Teeth Looked at For the First Visit

To get a child ready for routine dental visits, you can set up an initial appointment for your child to simply have their teeth looked at by a dentist. You don't have to get your child's teeth cleaned at this time, and the dentist will simply count your child's teeth and look for any significant problems. The more times your child goes to the dentist and nothing upsets them, the easier it will be to bring them to visit a dentist (such as Kyle J Frisinger DMD) when they need additional treatment.

When Your Child is Complaining of Mouth Pain

If your child is complaining about pain in their mouth and teeth, it's time to visit the dentist. Hopefully by the time this occurs, you will already have established a relationship with a dentist for your child. When they go to the dentist for the first time because of a dental emergency, they are more likely to experience stress and anxiety during their visit. When your child complains of pain, it's important to get this pain assessed right away.

If you haven't brought your child to a dentist, and you believe they are ready to start learning about their oral health, contact a pediatric dentist in your area today and set up an appointment.

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