The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children visit a dentist within six months of getting the first tooth–and no later than the first birthday. In this video, Dr. Charlie Clark talks about why it’s important to teach kids to take care of their baby teeth and why a healthy smile can help kids meet their milestones for healthy growth and development.
While one might believe that it’s not important to take care of baby teeth because they’ll fall out, baby teeth are a determining factor of future dental habits. If there’s a cavity in the baby teeth stage, it makes it harder for the child to eat right, grow, and meet their development milestones. They’re also important because they allow the child to chew, eat, and talk as well as set up how the adult teeth are going to come in. It’s important to remove any plaque or food from the mouth, even before the baby teeth grow in. Using a cloth to wipe out the mouth or a small finger brush can help keep their mouths healthy before they develop baby teeth. When they first start to come in, toothpaste is not required until around when they develop molars, but fluoride toothpaste in small amounts can be beneficial when needed.
Use this video to help kids understand that an early visit to the dentist can set the foundation for a lifetime of great oral health. See how a baby’s first dental visit might go and learn why dental health is important from the very beginning.
Discussion Questions
Why is it important that you visit the dentist as soon as you get your first tooth?
What are the functions of baby teeth?
Why is it important to take care of your baby teeth?
When should you start flossing your baby teeth?