At what age should you take your child to the dentist for the first time?

In short: the general recommendation is to take your child to the dentist around their first year of life, or as soon as their first tooth comes through. That first visit is mainly preventive: checking that everything is going well and guiding parents on hygiene and feeding. Starting early helps the little one not to develop a fear of it.

At what age should a child go to the dentist for the first time?

The most widely held guidance among paediatric dentistry professionals is clear: the first visit is best done around the first year of life, or at the latest when the first baby teeth appear. It may seem early, but it makes complete sense.

At that age it is not about carrying out treatments, but about prevention. The dentist checks that the mouth is developing well, answers parents’ questions and gives specific guidelines on hygiene and feeding. It is a calm, supportive visit more than anything else.

This guide is for general information; every child is different, so the specific guidelines should be set by the dentist who assesses your child.

What is the point of that very early first visit?

Even though the little one will not take in much, that first appointment serves several important purposes:

• Detecting early anything out of the ordinary in the development of the mouth.
• Teaching you how to clean the baby’s teeth and explaining how often and how.
• Talking about feeding, especially sugar and the bottle with sugary liquids, which are a typical cause of cavities in babies.
• Easing parents’ fears and answering questions (dummies, thumb-sucking, when to brush, what toothpaste to use).

Cavities in baby teeth are not harmless: they can hurt, affect chewing and affect the permanent teeth that come through behind. That is why early prevention is worthwhile.

How often should you go back?

After the first visit, the usual approach is to have regular check-ups, normally once or twice a year, depending on what the dentist advises for each case. The idea is to catch any problem in time, while it is still small and easy to treat.

Making the dentist part of the routine, without any drama, is the best investment for your child’s mouth in the long term. A child who goes from a young age and has never had a bad experience usually grows up without the fear that so many of us adults carry around.

How do I keep my child from becoming afraid of the dentist?

Here you parents have a huge role to play:

• Don’t pass on your own nerves. If you go in looking dramatic, the child picks up on it. Talk about the dentist naturally.
• Never use the dentist as a punishment or as a threat (saying “if you don’t brush your teeth I’ll take you to the dentist” is counterproductive).
• Avoid frightening words such as pain, jab or blood before the appointment.
• Start early and with short visits, so they associate the practice with something normal and manageable.

The paediatric dentistry practice is designed precisely for this: care tailored to little ones, a calm pace and an environment where the child feels comfortable. The sooner that relationship begins, the better.

And later on, with the matter of crooked teeth?

As the child grows and the permanent teeth come through, the dentist also keeps an eye on how they are fitting together. If it were needed later on, options such as invisible orthodontics are assessed at the appropriate time; but that is another matter entirely and is looked at calmly when the time comes.

The first and most important thing is what we are doing today: starting early and making the dentist a fear-free routine.

Shall we take the first step in Bilbao?

If you have a little one at home and have not taken them yet, don’t think twice: an early first check-up takes away your doubts and makes it easy for your child to have a good relationship with their oral health from the start.

Book an appointment with us from the contact and how to find us page and reserve their first check-up free, with no commitment. We will be delighted to meet the little one and to give you a hand here in Bilbao.