Tooth decay can occur as soon as your child's first tooth comes in. Their first dental visit should occur when a baby's first tooth appears, and should be no later than your child's first birthday.
Why schedule a first visit so early?
Your dentist can show you how to clean your child's teeth, talk about feeding, oral habits and recommend dental care products, and fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral that helps protect the teeth.
If your child is a toddler, the dentist will gently examine his or her teeth and gums, looking for decay and other problems related to habits such as thumb and finger sucking.
Fluoride treatments and dental sealants are two important ways your dentist can prevent cavities.
If my child gets a cavity in a baby tooth, should it still be filled?
Baby teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to grow in. Baby molars are not lost until a child is around 12 years of age. Pain, infection of the gums and jaws, impairment of general health and premature loss of teeth are just a few of the problems that can happen when baby teeth are neglected. Also, since tooth decay is really an infection and can spread, decay on baby teeth can cause decay on emerging permanent teeth. Proper care of baby teeth is instrumental in enhancing the health of your child.