That's a great point about the varnish—I've noticed kids tend to handle it way better too. Usually, we recommend scheduling that first dentist visit around the time the first tooth pops up or by their first birthday. Did your dentist mention anything about timing for that first appointment?
"Usually, we recommend scheduling that first dentist visit around the time the first tooth pops up or by their first birthday."
That's pretty much what I've seen recommended as well, though I have noticed some parents prefer waiting a bit longer. From my experience, earlier visits tend to make kids more comfortable with dental check-ups down the road. My niece had her first appointment at about 8 months when her first tooth appeared, and now she's surprisingly calm during visits... maybe there's something to starting early after all. Did your dentist give you any specific reasoning behind their timing suggestion?
I get the logic behind starting early, but honestly, I think sometimes parents stress themselves out unnecessarily. My youngest didn't see a dentist until he was almost two—mostly because life got hectic and we just forgot (oops). But guess what? He's totally chill about dentist visits now. I think a lot depends on the kid's personality and how relaxed the parents are about it. Early visits might help, sure, but they're not the only factor...
Did your dentist seem concerned at all that you waited until two? I'm a bit anxious about this because our pediatrician recommended going by one, and now I'm wondering if waiting longer might cause issues later. My daughter is 10 months and barely has any teeth yet...maybe it's too soon to stress about it? I'm probably overthinking, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
We waited until my son was almost two as well, and honestly, our dentist didn't seem worried at all. She just mentioned that the "by one" recommendation is mostly about getting kids comfortable with dental visits early on, rather than because there's usually a serious issue at that age. My son barely had teeth at 10 months too—he was a late bloomer in that department, haha. I totally get your anxiety though; I was the same way, worrying if I'd missed some crucial window or something. But really, as long as you're brushing gently once teeth start coming in and keeping an eye out for anything unusual, you're probably fine. Every kid is different, and it sounds like you're already doing great by thinking ahead. Trust your gut, but try not to stress too much... easier said than done, I know!
