Kids and dentists

[kezza1973]

At what age do I start taking my kids to the dentist? My daughter has just turned 6 and does not have a dentist. She has only just lost her first tooth. I was horrified to see she looks like she has a tiny hole developing on her back tooth and I feel like a bad mother!

[kick3m0n]

Where I live (east coast of Scotland) the Health Visitor encourages you to register your child with a dentist as soon as they have their first tooth. My wee boy is only 2.5 and has been to the dentist 3 times (he and I get our check ups together). Quite apart from meaning his teeth are well looked after and any problems quickly identified, it makes the denstist seem very non threatening, as he knows the place and faces and is familiar with it, rather than having to go somewhere unknown when he has a dental problem or needs something done.

[yummymummy]

I was under the impression you should take them as early as possible after they get their first teeth. I know people who have taken their 18m - 2yo to dentist and that has been seen as reasonably normal. I will be taking my 20m son soon. I would think that a lot of damage can be done in 6 years so it would be a good idea to take them before that? Doesn't mean that you are a bad mother though! The important thing is to sort it out now that you have seen a potential problem.

[kick3m0n]

I agree yummy.... I took my wee guy when he was only 6 months old (he got his first teeth very early and had a full set by 1.5yrs old), just to get him registered. It's common practice here.

[sweetdor]

i started to take mine at the age of about 2 1/2 it just gets em used to it

[aka pixi]

my mum took me and my sister from being really young and we have never been frightened of the dentist, I took my kids from when they first got their teeth and they too have gone regularly and never minded going

[dancecaller]

when I took my son I had carefully prepared him that he would have to open his mouth wide.

The dentist then confused him by asking a question

[boobesque]

i took my little boy from 6 months when he got his first tooth

[smudge]

I took our daughters along with me for my six monthly checkups from babies too - the dentist adored them both & I actually became good personal friends with one of the dental nurses.

When they were able to walk they would willingly climb up into the chair for check ups on their little teeth.

[Tadpole_30]

Ive just done a presentation on childrens dental helth at uni and we found that it is recomended that once the child has cut there first tooth you can take them from then, however most children should go to the dentist at about 2 yrs old.

[Bohne]

My mother started taking me, when I was about three.
I'd go and sit in the chair, and the dentist looked into my mouth, just to make me get used to it.
Not sure, when he really started looking...

[funkymoped]

my kids have got healthy teeth and for that im happy.

we took ours from an early age. but if i had the choice again, i would take them before they had teeth.

have been told that sugary type of food and drink can damage the teeth as soon as they break the skin.

ask your dentist for his/her opinion...

[babybop6379]

take her as soon as possible I took my daughter to the dentist at 4 1/2 and he said she was fine, i then took her six months later to a different dentist and she did a full inspection and revealed that my daughter needed 6 fillings i was devestated because i had my first filling at 23! this also set off a massive phobia in my littlun and it is such an ordeal luckily all the filled teeth have fallen out but im am obsessive about it now.

[Butty]

Start off early if you can. We took our daughter when she was 2 1/2 but only on her recent 3rd visit (just over 3 years old) did she consent to letting him put his mirror into her mouth.

She actually had a good experience because she sat and watched me being examined (I'm very relaxed and chatty in there - unlike her mother!) and then the dentist just went over to her on her seat and encouraged her to open her mouth. She subsequently got some stickers from the dentist so she is happy about the whole thing.

He spotted immediately that she sucks her thumb (she does!) but says it is not a problem until they start getting their main set of teeth.

[iluvcatz]

I like smudge I took my sons from a very early age with me when I went for my check-ups. Sadly for my eldest son it did not work, he had to have an extraction when he was young and that has put him off for life. He is now in his late 20's. I don't think it takes much to put youngsters off, so you and all the staff at the denstist surgery need a very calm, kindly approach.

[Azimov]

I think the answer is obvious!
My mother took me to the dentist when she was about 32, I suggest you take them no matter what age you are!

[jadeamy]

if i had my time over again i would most certainly take my daughter to the dentist when she was very young , i took my daughter to the dentist when she was 4 years of age for the 1st time due to the fact she has a toothache , i thought i was doing everything correct by limiting the sugar in her diet to keep her teeth healthy , but i was advised by my dentist , who asked me at what age did she stop using a bottle for bedtime ? i replied 18 months old , but apparantly by then the damage was done to her tooth as i was told when a child goes to bed with a bottle in their mouth whether or not its milk , juice , etc it actually damages the teeth from an early age , when the child goes to sleep with a bottle the drink from the bottle just sits in the mouth and starts decaying the teeth , i was absolutely horrified to learn this , now my daughter is 6 and in the past 2 years we have spent many times at the dentist due to decaying teeth , parents please be aware