Newborn First Dental Visit - When Should It Be?

If you're the parent of a brand new bundle of joy, odds are you've typed "when should my baby's first dental appointment be?" into Google.

While you'll often find information that the first dental visit is recommended by 12 months of age, or within 6 months of the first tooth coming in, I've had parents book in their babies as young as two days old.

You may be thinking, "but - the baby has no teeth!!!" And while this is definitely true, facial development, sleep, nasal breathing and oral restrictions (such as lip and tongue ties) should be assessed as early as possible.

A lip tie can affect breastfeeding and possibly even lead to decay in the front baby teeth. And an optimal breathing assessment is important for cognitive development. There is so much more.

Parents may also be concerned as to whether their baby using a pacifier or sucking their fingers and thumbs will have an affect on your baby's development and teeth - and the answer to that, is yes it can!

If you have any concerns at all about your baby's facial development and teeth or if you think there's a chance they may have a lip/tongue tie, please don't hesitate to contact me or make an appointment.