This post is sponsored by Delta Dental of Illinois. All opinions are my own.
Parents, you have survived the first year of your child’s life and you are probably going through the checklist of what you need to do–maybe that includes ordering a smash cake, blowing up some balloons, and making sure you have your child’s one-year well-child visit scheduled. But don’t forget to also schedule your child’s first dentist visit! It is extremely important and sets your child up for a lifetime of good oral health.
Did you know that children should have their first dentist visit within 6 months of getting their first tooth and no later than age 1? However, according to a study by Delta Dental of Illinois, most children don’t visit their family dentist until they are 2 ½ years old. Even though children have so called “baby teeth”, how these baby teeth are cared for and the habits that you teach your child, lead to more success with caring for adult teeth and healthier teeth for your child. I am partnering with Delta Dental of Illinois to help encourage parents to join me and pledge to take your child to the dentist by age 1.
Benefits of Taking Your Child At/Before Age 1
It’s important to take your child to the dentist by age 1 for several reasons that benefit you and your child.
Most importantly, the dentist will check that your child’s teeth are developing properly and that they are being cared for appropriately. This visit will allow your child to start getting used to dental staff, what a hygienist/dentist does, and routine oral care. It will also be an opportunity to make sure your child doesn’t have any mouth or tooth pain, something a child wouldn’t be able to tell you on their own at this age. Bonus: These early visits may reduce future dental costs! One study found that costs of dental care for children who see a dentist before age 1 are 40% lower for the first 5 years than those who did not see a dentist prior to their first birthday.
It’s also important to get that 1st dental visit by age 1 to ensure proper bite, tongue, and facial development. My first child had a lip and tongue tie repaired as a newborn, but we didn’t realize until age 2 that both had re-attached.
If we had been to the dentist earlier, we could have saved a lot of time and had a less-invasive surgery.
Taking your child to the dentist can also be a wonderful learning opportunity for parents and caregivers. Learning about how to brush teeth properly, what foods/drinks to avoid, and why fluoride is important can all be helpful to children’s (and adult’s) teeth. Tooth decay is nearly 100% preventable and knowing how to care for your child’s teeth, plus checking regularly for any cavities starting to develop, is essential to good oral health. Being a parent is difficult, but it is made so much easier when you have a team of dentists and other health professionals ready to help and advise you about different ailments.
Take the Pledge
Visit Dentistby1.com/pledge and pledge to take your child to the dentist by age 1. The first 100 people to pledge will receive a FREE oral health kit which includes a toothbrush, floss, toothpaste, and a children’s oral health tip sheet. Join me in signing up today!
Liked the comments on Owlet. I’m a Nana, and it took 18 yrs, and 3 miscarriages to get this blessing! When I had my own Miracle child, they didn’t have Owlet, so after 3 miscarriages, I too, was afraid to sleep, keeping a watchful eye on my preemie. So, when my daughter and son-in-law told me they had Owlet, I was relieved. I could even monitor my grandson from 20+ miles away. To me, it is a tool, like me monitoring my BP, 02 Saturation., it helps moms and dad’s be on alert for any potential problems.
I signed the petition, donated money to help get it back where it needs to be..