A child’s baby teeth (primary teeth) are as important as the permanent teeth. There will be totally 20 primary teeth in your child’s mouth by the age of 3 years. So why and when is it recommended for a child’s first visit to the dentist?

Advantages of having strong and healthy primary teeth:

• Helps in chewing food so that good nutrition is maintained
• Helps in speech development
• Holds space in arch for the permanent teeth to come from below the gums
• Promotes healthy smile so the child can feel good about the way they look

The first teeth to appear will usually be the upper and lower front teeth by 6 months of age. As per The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, a child has to go to the dentist between six months to one year of age

Many parents may question this practise and wonder why they should be so worried about decay in the primary teeth as they will fall off once the permanent teeth comes out. The problem is that decay in primary teeth means the child is at a higher risk of decay in the permanent teeth. Severe the decay, the overall health of the child may be affected.

So what should parents be looking forward during the child’s first dental visit?

The dentist will check for the following:

• Presence of deposits/calculus.
• Presence of decay.
• Normal eruption of teeth.
• Teething issues.
• Any oral habits such as tongue thrusting or mouth breathing

After the check-up the Dentist will be able to help you in the following ways:

• Answering all your questions and doubts regarding your child’s oral health.
• Thorough oral hygiene instructions on how to brush your child’s teeth.
• Discuss diet needs and recommend the necessary oral care products
• Fluoride needs.
• Dental sealants may be recommended if your toddler has deep grooves on the tooth surface.
• Instructions for correction of oral habits if present.
• It will make your child get familiarised with the Dentist and the dental office. Thus reducing parents and child’s anxiety towards the Dentist.

As parents you can take these steps for a positive dental visit:

• Choose a conveniently located dental office, so that getting to and back from home or school is easy.
• Fix up an appointment in the morning as the child will be well rested during this time.
• Do not bribe your child or make them visit the dentist as a form of punishment.
• Finally, if you have any anxiety towards the dentist, it’s better to keep it to yourself during the visit.

Each child has different oral care needs. But it’s almost always true that early preventive care can save you a lot of time, money and teeth! Like a paediatrician, there is the paedodontist who specializes in kid’s teeth. We here at Zen Orthodontic and Dental Care can help you schedule your child’s visit as and when necessary.

To book an appointment, call us at: 080-48655431 or

Log on to our website at: http://zendental.in