When to Take the Kids to the Dentist

Date: 02/27/24

Just as baby teeth start to appear, it seems like a new tooth pops up every month. In fact, it usually takes until your child is around 2 and a half to 3 years old before all 20 baby teeth are in place.

It’s important to care for your baby’s teeth before all 20 baby teeth arrive. When your child’s teeth start coming in, their doctor may recommend fluoride varnish treatments. Fluoride varnish treatments help prevent tooth decay. This can be done 2 to 4 times per year. The number of treatments depends on how likely it is that your child gets cavities.

What is Fluoride Varnish?

Fluoride varnish is a protective coating a doctor puts on your child’s teeth. It takes less than two minutes to apply and dries almost instantly. The coating helps make the outer layer of their tooth enamel harder and stronger. As a result, your child is less likely to get cavities or experience tooth decay.

A lot of pediatricians are trained to apply fluoride varnish. This is because many young children do not see a dentist until they are older. If your child is seeing a dentist at a young age, the fluoride varnish may be applied at their dentist up to 2 times and at the doctor’s office up to 2 times too.

While baby teeth do indeed fall out, taking care of them is just as important as taking care of adult teeth. Baby teeth help kids chew their food and speak better. They also hold places in the gums so adult teeth can grow in the right and healthy way.

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