Totally agree about the vibe thing—it's huge. We went around 18 months, mostly because I was anxious about cavities (first-time parent worries, lol). Our dentist was super patient too, but honestly, my daughter cried through most of it. Thankfully, the dentist didn't push it and just kept things short and sweet. Second visit was way better though, so I think you're right—it's more about building comfort over time than hitting some exact age milestone.
Weirdly enough, I never even thought about the whole "vibe" thing until reading this thread. Makes sense though...I mean, dentist visits can be stressful even for adults, right? 😂
Back when my kids were little (they're grown now), we didn't really have clear guidelines on when to start dental visits. I think we waited until around 2 or so, mostly because that's when our pediatrician mentioned it. Honestly, the first visit was kind of a disaster—lots of tears and squirming—but the dentist was chill about it and just did a quick check. After that, each visit got easier.
I'm curious though, is there any actual benefit to going super early, like before 1 year? Or is it mostly just about getting them comfortable with the dentist's office? Seems like opinions vary quite a bit on this one...
Actually, there's more to it than just getting comfortable at the dentist's office. Early visits—like around the first birthday or even earlier—can help catch potential issues like early tooth decay or developmental problems before they become bigger headaches. Plus, dentists can give parents tailored advice on brushing techniques and diet tips specific to their baby's needs. It's not just about vibes...though that's definitely a bonus if it helps avoid meltdowns later on!
Good points there, especially the tailored brushing tips—wish I'd known that earlier. We took ours around 18 months, and the dentist caught some early enamel weakening we hadn't even noticed... could've saved some stress going sooner. Guess you live and learn, huh?
We had a similar experience with our youngest. Took him around 2 years old, thinking we were pretty on top of things, and turns out he already had some minor cavities starting. Felt awful at first—like we'd totally dropped the ball—but our dentist was super reassuring. She said it's actually pretty common, even when you're careful with brushing. Apparently, genetics and diet play a big role too, not just how often you brush.
Anyway, after that wake-up call, we made a few small changes (cut back on juice, switched to fluoride toothpaste earlier), and it made a noticeable difference. I guess the silver lining is that catching it early meant we avoided bigger issues down the road. Parenting really is just one long learning curve...
