Introduction
Dental visits are important for children, but when should they start? The first visit should take place within six months after the first tooth comes in or by the child’s first birthday. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that a child visit the dentist by age 1 or within six months after the first tooth erupts. Primary teeth, which develop during childhood and eventually fall out to make room for permanent teeth, aid children in talking, chewing and smiling.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that a child visit the dentist by age 1 or within six months after the first tooth erupts.
The AAPD also says that dental visits should be scheduled every six months. They also note that children with special needs may require more visits per year than these guidelines recommend; if your child has special needs, talk to your dentist about scheduling regular check-ups throughout childhood so they can develop good oral health habits early on and avoid issues later in life.
Primary teeth, which develop during childhood, eventually fall out to make room for permanent teeth, which aid children in talking, chewing and smiling.
The first tooth to come in is usually the lower central incisor, which generally appears around 6 months old. It’s followed by the lower lateral incisors, upper central incisors, and upper lateral incisors between ages 1 and 3. Primary teeth serve an important role in speech, chewing, and smiling; once they fall out at age 12 or 13 (this can happen earlier if there’s a problem with their root structure), permanent teeth take their place.
Your child’s primary teeth are important for speech and eating. They help a child chew food, speak clearly, and hold space in the mouth for adult teeth. If you notice that your child is having difficulty chewing or speaking because of missing teeth, schedule an appointment with your dentist right away.
It’s also important to take care of baby teeth because they can be used to help identify children who are missing. When a child goes missing, dental records are one-way law enforcement agencies can use to identify them if they’re found alive or deceased.
Conclusion
While you may not remember your first dental visit, it’s extremely important that you start early. Taking care of the baby teeth is just as important as taking care of permanent teeth because they are needed to help a child chew food, speak clearly, and hold space in the mouth for adult teeth. Start getting your children used to going to the dentist now so that they will be comfortable when they get older! And when teeth start to appear in the mouth, begin brushing with a rice-sized portion of toothpaste on a small and soft toothbrush designed for kids.
Pediatric Dental Associates of Alabama is led by top-rated pediatric dentists with locations in Birmingham, Cullman, Hoover,Medplex, Oxford, and Pell City. When looking for your child’s dentist, know that we aspire to be the premier provider of pediatric dental services in Alabama. We also provide orthodontics in our Hoover, Medplex, and Cullman locations. Be the reason someone smiles today!