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The First Visit to the Dentist

The First Visit to the Dentist

Provided by Healthy Start, Grow Smart

Children need to have their first dental visit when they're about one year old.

The dentist will check many things:

  • Are the teeth coming in correctly?
  • Is there tooth decay?
  • Is there any gum disease?

The dentist may ask you questions like:

  • Does your baby eat lots of sugary foods?
  • Are you breastfeeding your baby or does your baby use a bottle?
  • Do you clean your baby's teeth daily?

If there's a problem, the dentist can treat it. Treatment now can avoid big problems later. The dentist will also show you how to clean your child's teeth. Ask when to come for another checkup. Every six months is a good idea. Make dental visits pleasant. Don't tell scary stories about what dentists do. You might say, "We're going to the dentist. We want you to have strong teeth." You and the dentist can work together to keep your baby’s teeth healthy.

Healthy Start, Grow Smart: U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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