Your Child’s First Dental Cleaning: What to Expect

Your kid should start visiting the dentist twice a year once their first tooth has emerged. According to our Ottawa dentists, here is what you can expect from your child's first dental cleaning. 

In spite of the fact that your child will start to see the dentist regularly around their first birthday, their first dental cleaning will most likely happen a little later, once the bulk of the baby teeth have emerged. 

This is why the initial cleaning is typically performed during the toddler years, when the kid is between the ages of 12 and 36 months. This is when your child's dentist will be able to detect and remove plaque and tartar buildup before they become a serious problem. 

Preparing Your Child for Their First Dental Cleaning

It's important to spend some time preparing your child for what will take place before their first dental cleaning. Talk to your child and discuss the significance of keeping their teeth healthy. Explain what the dentist will do in age-appropriate language that's also suitable for their stage of development. 

You may want to try and keep your explanations basic. Providing too many details might cause your youngster to get concerned. Most of the time, we recommend parents say something along the lines of:

"The dentist is going to look at your teeth, count them, and make sure they are healthy and strong. The dentist’s name is Dr. Doctor. They are really nice!"

If your child is already worried about going to the dentist, try to avoid using unpleasant words and phrases around him or her. However, even if you use softer language to describe the discomfort, such as terms like "not too bad" or "only a little," words such as shot, pinch, and needle are likely to stick in the mind of your child.

If dentist appointments are a source of worry for you, try not to express your feelings to your kid during the session. When it comes to responding to new experiences, they look to you for direction. If you appear to be concerned, they will be as well.

During the Appointment

We encourage you to speak with us in advance and tell us a little about your child's personality. Do they have a tendency to be afraid or rebellious when confronted with unknown situations? Does your child have any attachment or developmental concerns that we should be aware of and address during the appointment?

The more information we have, the more we will be able to cater to your child's individual requirements and ensure that they receive the care that they require.

At the beginning of the session, we will inspect your child's teeth, jaws, gums, and bite to ensure that they are in good health.

In addition, we will use specialized devices to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth, exactly like we do with adult patients.

We will present recommendations for correct brushing and flossing techniques. Whether your child washes and flosses his own teeth or you still do it for them, it never hurts to get a refresher course on the subject.

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have concerning your child's oral health or any impending dental treatments during the visit.

Following the completion of the exam and cleaning, we will schedule any required follow-up visits. Also, if you like, we may schedule the next cleaning and checkup session sooner if necessary.

Is it time for your child's first dental cleaning? Contact our Ottawa dentists for an appointment today!