Did you know that maintaining your children’s oral health starts before their first teeth even erupt? To protect your infant's mouth, run a clean, wet washcloth gently over their gums during bathtime. Within six months of your baby’s first tooth coming in, start scheduling regular childhood dentist appointments. Here’s why these early visits are essential for ensuring a lifetime of smiles.

3 Reasons to Take Your Kids to a Childhood Dentist at an Early Age

1. Protect Primary Teeth

Baby teeth have a much thinner layer of enamel than adult teeth, which makes them more vulnerable to decay. Since most children love sweets and will eat them any chance they get, cavities are common on primary teeth. Taking your kids to the dentist every six months for a thorough exam and comprehensive cleaning will help address minor decay before it causes a major problem.

2. Safeguard Permanent Teeth

It sounds reasonable to assume that children don’t need to go to the dentist until their permanent teeth come in. In reality, damaged or decayed baby teeth can impact the permanent teeth, especially if they’re knocked out or extracted prematurely. Losing primary teeth too early will also affect the spacing of the permanent teeth. In other words, your children may eventually require costly orthodontic care.

3. Foster Good Habits

If you take your children to the dentist by their first birthday, they’ll become familiar with having their teeth cleaned at an early age. This helps prevent dental phobia, which is a real condition that affects up to 20% of Americans and stops them from seeking adequate oral healthcare as a result.

When you’re ready to start scheduling childhood dentist visits for your baby, turn to Beard & Holmen in Waterloo, IL. Drs. Darryll Beard and Charles Holmen have been meeting the oral health needs of families throughout Monroe County for nearly 70 combined years. Together with their friendly staff, they provide comprehensive dental care for patients of all ages. Services include everything from root canal treatment to teeth whitening. To make an appointment, call (618) 939-7181 or reach out on their website.