20/20 Dental Practice Blog

When Should I Take My Child to the Dentist?

Posted by Ronel Van Der Spuy on Feb 24, 2015 9:04:22 PM

TNHS children's dentist Newburyhe best time for your child’s first visit may be earlier than you think.

The NHS recommends taking children to the dentist from as young an age as possible – and at least once by the time they are two. Despite this advice Mintel research revealed only 53% of Britain’s parents with children under 12 take their children regularly to visit a dentist. Only a quarter of parents agree that it is important to visit the dentist as soon as babies develop their first tooth.

You should take your child to visit the dentist by the time they celebrates their first birthday. During this visit your child will get used to the dentist's chair and your dentist will tell you how to care for your baby's teeth.

If your child drinks from a cup then your child’s dentist will advise you to bring your child for their next checkup at two. Your dentist will then recommended the interval between dental check-ups for your child, base on an assessment of your child’s dental disease levels and risk of dental disease. For under-18s the interval between check-ups should be between 3 and 12 months.

Prevention is the name of the game between ages 6 and 12, when baby teeth give way to permanent teeth. From the age of three, your child will be offered fluoride varnish application at least twice a year. Fluoride varnish can be applied to both baby teeth and adult teeth. It involves painting a varnish that contains high levels of fluoride on to the surface of the tooth every six months to prevent decay. It works by strengthening tooth enamel, making it more resistant to decay.

If your child have crooked and out-of-place teeth your dentist will refer your child for an orthodontic evaluation. It's thought around a third of 12-year-olds in the UK would benefit from some degree of orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic treatment will usually only be started after all of a child's adult teeth have started to come through.

In the end, it's the basics -- brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and getting regular dental checkups -- that have the most impact on a kid's smile.

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