Haha, your daughter sounds adorable...mine mostly screamed bloody murder at her first dentist trip (around 18 months), but the dentist was super patient about it. Definitely agree it's worth biting the bullet early—my wallet still hasn't forgiven me for procrastinating on my own dental visits!
"mine mostly screamed bloody murder at her first dentist trip (around 18 months), but the dentist was super patient about it."
Haha, sounds familiar...my son wasn't exactly thrilled either, but thankfully no screaming. Our dentist recommended starting around the first birthday, but I've heard others say waiting until closer to two is fine. Honestly, I'm still not sure what's best—seems like every dentist has their own take. Did anyone else get conflicting advice on timing from different dentists or pediatricians? Curious if there's a general consensus or if it's just one of those parenting gray areas...
Weird, my dentist actually said waiting until around two or even a bit later is totally fine, as long as you're brushing regularly at home. He mentioned that earlier visits are mostly just to get kids comfortable with the dentist's office rather than actual dental necessity. Honestly, I think starting too early might just stress everyone out unnecessarily—especially if your kiddo isn't ready yet. My granddaughter went at about 2 and a half, and it was pretty smooth sailing...no screaming or tears, thankfully. Maybe it's more about knowing your own kid and their comfort level rather than sticking strictly to a timeline? Seems like one of those things where there's no single "right" answer.
Did your dentist mention anything about cavities? I've always been anxious about dental stuff myself...my grandson didn't go till he was almost three, and I worried it was too late, but everything turned out fine. Maybe I overthink these things?
I totally get the anxiety around dental visits, especially with little ones. My dentist did mention cavities briefly, mostly just emphasizing how important early check-ups are in catching things before they become bigger problems. Honestly though, I think there's a lot of wiggle room—like your grandson going at almost three and being totally fine. My niece didn't have her first dentist appointment until she was around two and a half, and my sister was pretty nervous about it too. Turns out, no cavities or issues at all...the dentist even said her teeth looked great.
I do think sometimes we overthink these milestones and timelines a bit. Dentists tend to recommend earlier visits these days, mostly to get kids comfortable with the process rather than because there's an urgent issue. But every kid is different, right? As long as you're brushing regularly and keeping an eye out for anything unusual, waiting a bit longer probably isn't the end of the world.
