Dear Parents, Children who have pleasant dental appointments when they are very young are likely to have a favourable outlook towards dental care throughout life. The initial appointments are very important in their attitude formation. As a parent you can be instrumental in encouraging a positive attitude in your child towards his/ her first dental visit.
Apprehension in the initial visit is understood, but please do not let your child see your anxiety. Your child will sense that you are worried and will presume that there is a reason for fear. Your co-operation will go a long way in your child enjoying a pleasant and successful dental experience.
Parents should not make a big deal out of the visit and refrain from using any words that could cause unnecessary fear, such as “needle” or “drill.” You can help keep your child's teeth healthy now and for years to come

• The first visit of your child to the dental clinic could be as early as 1 year,  but definitely not later than 2 years, to be followed by 6 monthly regular check-ups.
• The child's teeth should be brushed thoroughly twice daily using fluoridated toothpaste. This brushing has to be done by the parents initially, till the child has mastered the necessary skills.
• Allow the child to eat what he/she likes, but with or immediately after meals. This should be followed by brushing or thorough rinsing of the mouth. These measures will ensure that the food particles are cleared from the mouth, thus reducing the incidence of tooth decay.
• Sealants should be applied onto the biting surfaces of the permanent back teeth as soon as they erupt. This will prevent decay from occurring in the pits and fissures of these teeth.
• Fluoride treatment may be considered if your child has a high incidence of decay, or if the level of fluoride in your drinking water is inadequate

Practicing oral hygiene at a young age is crucial since it determines what teeth we are going to have as adults.

Although it is true that all milk teeth are replaced by permanent teeth, this must happen at the right age. There is an appropriate time for each milk tooth to fall and the permanent successor to take its place. If a milk tooth is lost for any reason much earlier than the scheduled time of eruption of the permanent successor, then it is very likely that the space created by loss of the milk tooth will reduce or even close due to drifting of the adjacent teeth, and when the time for the permanent tooth to erupt comes it may have no place, so it may either get locked within the jaws or erupt in an abnormal position. If early removal of teeth becomes necessary, an appliance called a space-maintainer should be constructed for the child to wear. The function of this appliance is to maintain the space created by the loss of the milk tooth for the permanent successor.
Primary teeth\children's (first milk) teeth are important and are special for many reasons -

• They are needed for chewing and speaking.
• They help to maintain space for permanent teeth
• They help to shape children's face and growth of jaws        
• If they are pretty and healthy, they help children feel good about themselves.
• Most of the people believe milk teeth are not important but scientifically they are as important as permanent teeth .
• If there are cavities in primary teeth, bacterial count in mouth increases manifold this causes more decay. So dental care and prevention at an early age is most important.

A word of caution: The 6 year permanent molars are often mistaken as milk teeth and neglected so they are decayed at an early age. So special attention should be paid to your child's teeth

• Don't put your baby to bed with a bottle unless it is filled with plain water. Even watered-down fruit juice or milk can increase the risk of decay.
• Reduce sweetened soft drinks. Use a straw for fizzy drinks
• Use a soft nylon toothbrush with a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste.
• Replace your toothbrush when it begins to show wear, or every three months.
• Brushing properly twice a day helps to keep the cavities away.

Night brushing is more important

You should always clean your infant's gums after feeding. Gums should be wiped with a clean, damp cloth or gauze pad. Parents should brush children's teeth daily with a soft wet toothbrush and a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. When children are very young it is necessary to supervise their brushing to ensure proper brushing habits are adopted. Your dentist will probably recommend regular fluoride treatments which will strengthen enamel and help your child’s teeth resist decay. To prevent your child suffering from nursing bottle mouth, you must give your baby a bottle at nap or bed time. Fill the bottle with plain water and not milk, formula or juice.

Take your child to see a dentist by the first birthday, and return for follow-up visits as often as recommended. Early diagnosis and treatment is necessary  in order to maintain good oral health.