Why Your Child Should See the Dentist by Their First Birthday

I’m still concerned about the state of children’s dental health. Tooth decay remains one of the most common childhood diseases, yet so much of it can be prevented with the right habits, guidance and support from the very beginning.

Good oral health starts from birth. That’s why I strongly support the Dental Check by One (DCby1) campaign and recommend that every child has their first dental visit by their first birthday.

Why is a dental visit by age one so important?

A first dental visit doesn’t necessarily mean your baby will need any treatment. In fact, quite the opposite.

It’s an opportunity to introduce your child to the dental team in a relaxed and positive way, while giving parents the information they need to establish healthy habits from the start.

At an early appointment, we can:

• Check how your child’s teeth and mouth are developing
• Talk about brushing and fluoride toothpaste
• Discuss what your child is eating and drinking
• Give advice about sugary snacks and drinks
• Answer questions about teething
• Help you establish good brushing habits
• Make sure your child becomes familiar with visiting the dental practice

Starting early can help make dental visits a normal part of your child’s life rather than something they only experience when there is a problem.

Dental health and sugar

One of the biggest challenges we face is the amount of sugar children can consume throughout the day.

It isn’t just sweets and chocolate that we need to think about. Sugar can be found in many everyday foods and drinks, including some products that parents may assume are healthy.

Frequency matters too. Repeatedly exposing teeth to sugary foods and drinks throughout the day gives harmful bacteria more opportunities to produce acids that can damage the teeth.

My advice is simple: keep sugary foods and drinks to a minimum, avoid frequent snacking and encourage water and milk as the main drinks.

Good nutrition is also an important part of supporting your child’s overall health and wellbeing.

My top tips for healthy children’s teeth

1. Start caring for your baby’s mouth from birth

Even before the first tooth appears, it is important to start thinking about your baby’s oral health.

As teeth begin to erupt, introduce brushing with an appropriate fluoride toothpaste and make it part of your child’s daily routine.

2. Bring your baby to the dental team early

I recommend bringing your baby to see a dental hygienist, dental therapist or dentist from an early age.

This gives us the opportunity to show you how to care for your baby’s teeth and gums and talk through what to expect as their mouth develops.

3. Aim for that first dental visit by age one

Dental Check by One (DCby1) is a simple message with an important goal: helping children grow up with healthy teeth and positive experiences of dental care.

Ideally, your child’s first dental visit should take place before their first birthday.

And don’t worry if they don’t sit perfectly still or open their mouth straight away! The first visit is often about getting them comfortable with the environment and beginning to build trust.

4. Make dental visits part of normal family life

Children learn from the adults around them.

Bringing your child along when you have your own dental appointment can help them become familiar with the practice, the dental team and the sights and sounds of the surgery.

The more normal dental visits feel, the less likely they are to seem frightening or unfamiliar.

5. Supervise brushing

Children need help with their tooth brushing for much longer than many parents realise.

I recommend supervising brushing and helping your child until they have developed the manual skills and understanding to brush effectively themselves. Even when they become more independent, it is worth keeping an eye on their brushing.

Remember: twice a day, every day, with the appropriate amount of fluoride toothpaste and spit the paste out and don’t rinse.

6. Think carefully about food and drinks

Take a close look at what your child is eating and drinking throughout the day.

Some foods marketed as healthy can contain surprisingly high levels of sugar. Reading food labels and discussing your child’s diet with your dental professional can be really helpful.

Try to avoid frequent sugary snacks and drinks between meals.

7. Don’t forget about your own oral health

Your child’s oral health journey starts with you.

Children naturally copy the people around them, so demonstrating good brushing habits and having positive attitudes towards dental care can make a real difference.

If you’re pregnant, it’s also important to look after your own oral health. Pregnancy can cause changes to the gums, making them more susceptible to inflammation and bleeding.

Regular dental care during pregnancy can help you look after your own oral health while preparing you for caring for your baby’s teeth.

Healthy habits for life

The message really is very simple:

Start early. Brush twice a day. Keep sugary foods and drinks to a minimum. Visit the dental team regularly.

A first dental visit by your child’s first birthday is a small step that can make a big difference to their future oral health.

As a dental hygienist and therapist, I love helping parents feel confident about looking after their children’s teeth. My aim is always to make dental care simple, positive and stress-free for the whole family.

So, if your little one hasn’t had their first dental visit yet, why not make this the year you start?

Healthy habits begin early — and they can last a lifetime.