My dentist recommended waiting until at least one tooth had erupted, just so there's something concrete to check on. I mean, getting comfortable is great, but babies change so fast—wouldn't they ...
I totally get wanting to be proactive, but yeah, before any teeth show up seems a bit early to me too. My dentist actually laughed (nicely!) when I asked about bringing my son in before his first tooth. She said something like, "Let's wait till there's at least one tooth to say hello to." 😂 Honestly, waiting a bit saved us some money too, which never hurts...
Totally understand the logic of waiting until there's actually something to look at, but I do think there's value in an earlier visit sometimes. I've seen parents bring their babies in before any teeth erupt just to get comfortable with the dental office environment—sounds funny, but it can really help ease anxiety down the road. Plus, it's a great chance to chat about oral hygiene habits and answer any questions parents might have early on.
I had a mom recently who brought her 4-month-old in, no teeth yet, just to talk about teething and what to expect. Honestly, it was a pretty relaxed appointment, mostly chatting and giving her some peace of mind. She seemed relieved just to have a professional reassure her everything was on track. So while it might seem unnecessary from a purely dental perspective, sometimes those early visits can be helpful in other ways.
I'm curious though, for those who've waited until teeth erupted, did you find your little ones adjusted easily to the dentist later on? Or was there some initial hesitation?
We waited until my daughter had a couple teeth, around 9 months or so. Honestly, she did fine—no major meltdowns—but she was definitely cautious at first. Maybe an earlier visit would've made her more comfortable...hard to say though!
We took our son around 7 months, right after his first tooth popped through. Honestly, I was a bit nervous he'd freak out, but he surprised us by being pretty chill about the whole thing. The dentist mostly just peeked in his mouth and gave us some tips on brushing those tiny teeth. I think it helped that we made it feel like a casual outing rather than a big event—no pressure, just a quick check-up.
But you know, every kid is different. My niece didn't go until she was almost a year old, and she was super cautious at first too. After a couple visits though, she warmed up to the dentist and now actually looks forward to going (probably because of the stickers and toys they hand out afterward...). So maybe it's less about timing and more about making the experience relaxed and positive from the start? Hard to say for sure, but that's been my experience anyway.
We waited until our daughter was about a year old, mainly because I wasn't sure if it was worth paying for a dentist to just glance at one tiny tooth, haha. Honestly though, hearing your experience makes me wonder if we should've gone sooner. Did your dentist charge a full visit fee for something so quick? I'm all for keeping things relaxed and positive, but my wallet prefers relaxed and affordable...
