Did you know babies should see a dentist by their first birthday?
This early visit:
- Builds the foundation for good oral health
- Helps prevent tooth decay, which can affect baby's ability to eat, sleep, learn and talk
- Identifies problems before they become serious
- Reduces anxiety and fear about later dental visits
Here's what you can expect
The dental team may:
- Ask questions about your child’s health
- Answer your questions
- Look into your child’s mouth with a small mirror
- Brush your child’s teeth
- Paint safe and healthy fluoride varnish on your child’s teeth
- Note oral health concerns to share with the medical provider
- Share ways to care for your child’s mouth and teeth
The dentist is there to help with your baby's development. Common conversations include:
- Teething tips
- Effective bottle-weaning
- Preventing falls and dental trauma
Learn more about protecting little teeth at ToothTalk.
How to keep dental visits positive
Once your child is old enough to ask questions about the visit, keep it simple and positive. Share that the dentist may count the teeth or clean them.
Need support? Consider reading a book or watching a video together about going to the dentist:
Children’s books about going to the dentist
Video: Sesame Street’s Healthy Teeth, Healthy Me!
How to find a dentist
Most NC counties have a Safety Net Dental Clinic. Most accept insurance, NC Medicaid and NC Health Choice for Children.
No dental insurance? Many Safety Net clinics provide services on a sliding-fee scale based on income.
Find a Safety Net Dental Clinic
Medicaid recipients: Most Medicaid insurance covers dental care for both children and adults. No dentist? Find a Medicaid dental provider