Baby’s First Dental Visit

Protect your child’s teeth by starting dental checkups early.

Due to the importance of a healthy mouth, the American Dental Association recommends that babies should be seen by a dentist as soon as 6 months old but no later than their first birthday. Seeing the dentist before there is an issue is important to your baby’s health.

Why visit the dentist so early? A dentist can show you how to clean your child’s teeth, discuss fluoride and diet needs, check for any dental problems like tooth decay, and recommend oral care products. If you have other questions regarding teething or oral habits such as thumb-sucking, the dentist can also discuss these with you.

Babies are born with 20 primary teeth which are partly formed and they begin to emerge (erupt) over time. Starting with the front two teeth on the top and bottom, then working their way around the rest of the mouth. These 20 Primary teeth are typically fully formed by Age 3. Take a look at the chart to see the progression based on your child’s age.