If you’re a first-time parent, your priority is ensuring that your child is healthy. While your baby’s teeth haven’t grown in yet, it’s imperative to incorporate dental care in their overall health checkups. Here is more information about when you should take your baby to the dentist for the first time and how to look after their developing teeth at home. 

Understanding Dental Care for Babies

When should babies be seen by dentists? 

Babies should be seen by a dentist by the time they are about six months old, or about the time they develop their first tooth. During this important appointment, dentists will check to make sure the teeth are erupting properly. Early dental care visits are also important because they help young children become acclimated to dental offices, alleviating dental anxiety in the future. 

What can you do at home to support healthy dental habits? 

To keep the gums clean, wipe down your baby’s gums with a moistened piece of gauze daily. This step is important especially after your baby eats, as lingering food can settle on the gum and potentially cause discomfort. Additionally, feeding your child healthy foods and encouraging water consumption is also important for supporting dental care, since overall health supports proper tooth development and fends off infection. 

By the time your child develops teeth at about 3 years old, show them how to brush by using kid-friendly toothpaste. Instill a routine by brushing with them twice a day for about two minutes. To encourage them to brush for that full amount of time, play a two-minute song and brush until it stops. 

Whether you are pregnant and wondering about early dental care or you have a little one who has yet to be seen by a dentist, talk with Drs Bradford and Catchings Family Dentistry to create a preventive treatment plan for your little one. For more than 22 years, this team has been offering comprehensive preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry to families throughout the greater Fishersville, VA, area. Visit their website to learn more about their services or call their office at (540) 213-1966 to book an appointment.