Show some love: Take baby to the dentist! February is Children’s Dental Health Month, and a great time to schedule that first dental visit. Recommended by age one, think of it as a well-child visit for the mouth! That first visit to the dentist is all about starting the process of protecting baby’s teeth from tooth decay. Tooth decay hurts, and can affect a baby’s ability to eat, sleep, learn, grow, talk, and smile.
Here’s what you can expect for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. The dental team may:
- Ask you questions about your child’s health
- Look into your child’s mouth with a small mirror
- Brush your child’s teeth
- Paint safe and healthy fluoride varnish on your child’s teeth
- Share ways to care for your child’s mouth and teeth
Is your child old enough to ask questions about the visit to the dentist and wondering what will happen? Keep it simple and positive. Tell your child the dentist may count the teeth or clean them. Need some support? Reading aloud a book or watching a video together about going to the dentist can help.
Click to see a list of great children’s books about going to the dentist from the University of Maryland.
See everyone brush and sing along with Sesame Street’s fun Healthy Teeth, Healthy Me!
