A child should first visit the dentist after his or her third birthday. This visit will be short, and a parent can accompany the child through the duration of the visit. However, a parent also can wait in the reception area to help build the relationship between the child and the dental professionals. It is the parent’s preference on how best to handle the visit.

During this first visit, we will examine the child’s teeth and gums and X-rays may be taken. We will clean the teeth and apply topical fluoride to help protect against decay. We will check to see if your child is receiving the proper amounts of fluoride. Finally, we will review how to clean and care for your child’s new teeth.

To help ease the stress your child might feel during the first visit, we suggest you bring your child to meet our staff and to take a tour of our offices a week or so in advance of the visit. Read books about going to the dentist, talk about what to expect and tell positive stories about your own dental experiences.

Most often, cavities can be blamed on a diet high in sugary foods and a lack of proper brushing. In addition, the longer your child takes to eat his or her food also lengthens the time the residue and bacteria will be exposed to their teeth, which also increased their chances of getting cavities.

Brush after every meal and limit foods high in sugar.