Your Child’s First Dental Cleaning: What to Expect

Beginning with the eruption of the first tooth, your child should start visiting the dentist twice a year. Our Swift Current dentists share some insight into what you might anticipate from your kid's first dental cleaning. 

Your child will begin to see the dentist on a regular basis around the age of one. In spite of this fact, their first dental cleaning will most likely come a little later, once most of the baby teeth have emerged. 

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

Preparing Your Child for Their First Dental Cleaning

Spend some time discussing with your child what will happen before they go in for this first cleaning visit. Talk to children about why they need to keep their teeth healthy and describe what will do in kid-friendly language geared to their age and stage of development. 

One tip: try and keep it basic. Giving too many details may cause your little one to become concerned. Most of the time, we recommend parents say something along the lines of: 

"The dentist will look at your teeth, count them, and make sure they are strong and healthy. The dentist's name is Dr. Doctor. They are very nice!"

If your kid has been worrying about visiting the dentist, try to avoid unpleasant phrases and words around him or her. However, even using softer language to describe the discomfort, such as terms including "only a little" or "not too bad", words such as needle, pinch and shot are more likely to stick in your child's mind. 

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 your child due for their first dental cleaning? Contact our Swift Current dentists for an appointment today!