The first dental visit should happen within six months of the first tooth appearing, and no later than the first birthday. Its purpose is prevention and familiarity, not treatment.
A child should see a dentist within six months of the first tooth appearing, and no later than their first birthday. The point of this visit is not treatment. It is to record how the mouth is developing, to teach the family age appropriate care, and to let the child meet the clinic before anything hurts.
Why so early?
At twelve months there are usually only a few front teeth, so it can feel like there is nothing to check. In fact this is exactly when the conditions for decay are set: falling asleep with a bottle, milk or juice sitting on the teeth overnight, sugary syrups given regularly. Front teeth can decay quickly under these conditions.
What happens at the first appointment
- The child is often examined on the parent's lap, knee to knee with the dentist
- Erupted teeth, gums, tongue tie and palate are checked
- Decay risk is assessed through diet and daily habits
- The family is shown brushing technique and the right amount of toothpaste
- A quick, painless fluoride varnish may be applied if needed
How to prepare at home
The words you use matter. Saying do not be scared or it will not hurt introduces a fear the child did not have. Explaining that the dentist will count the teeth with a small mirror is enough. Book the appointment when your child is rested and not hungry, and practise counting teeth as a game beforehand.
Care starts before the first tooth
Wipe the gums with a clean damp cloth after feeding. Once a tooth appears, switch to a small soft baby brush. Use a smear the size of a grain of rice until age three and a pea sized amount afterwards. Children do not have the manual skill to brush thoroughly on their own for several more years, so a parent should always finish the job.
How often afterwards
Every six months suits most children. Where there is a history of decay, enamel defects, mouth breathing or orthodontic monitoring, the dentist may shorten the interval. These visits track jaw growth and eruption order as much as they look for cavities.
Colour changes, bleeding gums, pain on chewing or a loose tooth after a fall are all reasons not to wait. Our children's dentistry appointments run seven days a week in Muratpaşa, and emergency paediatric dental care is available at the same address at any hour.
