4 Reasons to Take Your Child to the Dentist Early

In the past, it was considered normal to start taking your child to the dentist when they were already five or six years old. However, recently the consensus among professionals has changed. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, your child should be brought for their first checkup either when their first tooth erupts or at their first birthday at the latest. But why is it better for your child to be seen so young? Here are several of the advantages that cited by dentists:

1.  Gets them used to the experience – As many older people probably can attest to, going to the dentist for the first time was scary. By getting children used to dental visits early (before they can get freaked out about it by friends who have already been or spiteful older siblings trying to scare them) you can keep them from developing a phobia and ensure that they have a positive experience.

2.  Helps you and them develop a healthy dental routine – It's always easier to instill good habits in children when they are younger. You don't want to wait until your child is six only to be told that they have been brushing their teeth wrong for years. The problem is harder to fix at that point. By heading to the dentist earlier, you can get customized recommendations that will result in the best possible oral health for your child.

3.  Avoids bacteria buildup and cavities – Children's teeth are especially prone to cavities because they are highly irregular in alignment and often have large gaps between teeth. It is, therefore, crucial that you take your child to the dentist every six months once they are a year old in order to get preventative cleanings.

4.  Allows for options like sealants for children during vulnerable years – Baby teeth may seem useless, but they actually serve a purpose. They create a passageway for adult teeth once they start appearing. Thus, if your child's baby teeth are damaged or destroyed early, it can bad for their future teeth. One of the options that you have for protecting them is to apply a sealant over the teeth so that bacteria cannot take hold. These and other options can be better explored before your child develops a problem – and if they do develop a cavity, you can catch and treat it better if they are taken to the dentist regularly.

These are just some of the reasons that it is now considered better to visit a dentistry office for children in Jonesboro when kids are young. What do you think?