Should children's "first teeth" be checked by a dentist or leave them alone?

I think they should be checked by a dentist, but perhaps you need to stay out of it and just suggest that she ask her pediatrician for advice.

Yes, baby teeth need regular visits to the dentist, too. They’re subject to cavities just like any other teeth, for one thing. And also, since little kids are more likely to fall down on their face, they need to be checked for damage.

Experience: a four year old with fillings and a 6 year old with a tooth cracked to the root, requiring extraction.

Yes they should be seen by a dentist. As @noelleptc said, my son’s pediatrician also said it should be around when he turns 3. Having serious dental issues with the baby teeth can carry into the adult teeth, especially if the teeth rot and decay. It could lead to infections in the gums that could infect the adult teeth as well. In addition to checking for cavities, it’s good to get xrays done to be sure all the adult teeth are there and are in place. That way they can be prepared if there are any issues as the child’s adult teeth start coming in.

I do agree with @janbb though, this is most likely something she needs to hear from her pediatrician. It could be a case of her thinking she knows what she’s talking about and she might be unwilling to listen to you since it’s been a while since you’ve raise little kids. I’m not saying that to be disrespectful, just from experience. I felt the same way when I was a new parent and my mom would tell me things. I use to insist that things were different now and it isn’t like it was when I was little anymore. (I’ve learned since then that a lot of things are still pretty similar.)

Kids’ baby teeth are definitely as important as their adult teeth! Sure, they’re just going to fall out, but good dental hygiene is important at any age. As others have mentioned, there are some problems that can carry over from early childhood.

Another plus to taking a child to the dentist early: a dental appointment can be a scary experience for kids and adults alike. Taking a child to the dentist at a young age will help him/her get used to the dentist, to the chair, the x-ray machine, and all that other scary stuff. Having a little one in the room while Mom or Dad has a checkup (if the dentist allows it, of course) is also a great way to show kids that there’s nothing to be afraid of.

My dad is a dentist, and when I was little, he did let a couple of small cavities go unfilled because the teeth would be falling out soon anyway. But he kept an eye on them, and I did have a couple of fillings as a kid, including at least one that I can remember in a baby tooth.

I’m wondering why your daughter is resisting the idea of taking her kids to the dentist. If it’s the cost, she should consider it an investment in her kids’ oral health.

Anyway, I agree with the other posters who suggest that she should talk to her pediatrician. Hearing it from a health professional will (hopefully) guide her in the right direction.

I had to have most of my baby teeth pulled by the dentist. It is definitly beneficial throughout life to have proper dental care of your first teeth. Having the teeth pulled before they were a problem saved me from needing expensive braces later in life.

She should definitely go around age 3. In addition to the excellent advice above, part of it is to establish good habits, which is much easier to do at 3 than at 6. Also, I was worried for a while that my daughter was pushing her front teeth forward by sucking on her bottom lip so much. Our dentist said she had never seen that happen, but that if it ever did she would put some sort of corrector in to help it and keep her adult teeth from following the same pattern.

ianbb, I would never have offered my advice, had she not asked me first. They are in Seattle, some 3,000 miles away. I never interfere with my familiy, unless they ask first.

My four year old has all her baby teeth, of course, but she still goes to the dentist three times a year for a cleaning. She likes it and gets a ”‘prize” out of the “treasure box” after the cleaning. Baby teeth still need to be taken care of.

My grandson’s pediatrician recommended a visit to the dentist at age 3. He learned how to brush and got a free tooth brush and his own tube of tooth paste. It’s a good habit to begin early.

Yes John, first teeth should be checked by a dentist. I wouldn’t let my son drink soft drink or eat sweets or lollies except on special occasions but he was lactose intolerant so I gave him soy milk. It is (or was not sure about now) full of sugar. He ended up with cavaties. Cost me a fortune but those first teeth guide through the next lot AND cavaties (apart from being painful) can be an opening through which infection can enter the body. It also gets the child used to visiting the dentist. It isn’t ever something to be feared because they have been going since they were little and it is just a normal part of life.

yes. this will benefit the child in the long run.