"Honestly, I think the dentist was more stressed than my kid was... ever seen a grown adult try to count teeth on a squirmy toddler? Pure comedy."
Haha, yes! Our first dentist visit was around the 12-month mark, mostly because our pediatrician recommended going soon after the first tooth popped up. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect at that age, but it turned out to be pretty laid-back. The dentist just did a quick peek and gave us some helpful tips about brushing and toothpaste amounts (rice grain-sized, apparently—who knew?).
I think the key is just getting them familiarized early, even if it's a bit chaotic. Our dentist said these early visits are mostly about establishing routine and comfort rather than doing deep checks. And yeah, watching a trained professional trying to calmly count teeth while your kid is doing the full-body wiggle is definitely comedy gold... we've all been there.
We took ours around 18 months, mostly because I wasn't sure earlier visits were really necessary. Honestly, it felt more like a wrestling match than a dental checkup... the dentist was super patient, but my daughter was having none of it. Do you guys think these early visits actually make a difference long-term, or is it more about getting parents comfortable with the routine? I'm still on the fence about whether we went too early or not.
Haha, your wrestling match description is spot-on... been there, done that. Honestly, I think these early visits are mostly about getting the kid (and us parents) used to the dentist's office. It's like a practice run—so when they're older and actually need to cooperate, it's not some scary new place. Plus, dentists can catch any weird tooth issues early on, even if it feels like they're just counting teeth while your toddler squirms.
We took ours around 12 months because our pediatrician recommended it, but honestly, it was mostly me holding my breath hoping my son wouldn't bite the dentist's finger off. 😂 Now he's four and loves going—mostly for the stickers and cool toothbrushes—but hey, whatever works.
Curious though... has anyone noticed their kid being less anxious about dental visits later on because they started early? Or does personality play a bigger role than timing?
"Honestly, I think these early visits are mostly about getting the kid (and us parents) used to the dentist's office."
Totally agree with this. We took our daughter around 14 months, and honestly, I think I was more nervous than she was. She just sat there wide-eyed, probably wondering why some stranger was poking around her mouth. Fast forward to now—she's three and still pretty cautious about the dentist, but at least it's not a full-blown meltdown anymore. I do think personality plays a big role, though. My nephew started around the same age and he's totally chill about it now, while my daughter still needs a pep talk and a promise of ice cream afterward (ironic, I know).
So yeah, early visits probably help ease the anxiety a bit, but some kids are just naturally more anxious or cautious than others. Either way, stickers and cool toothbrushes definitely help smooth things over... at least temporarily.
"Either way, stickers and cool toothbrushes definitely help smooth things over... at least temporarily."
Haha, yep, never underestimate the power of a sparkly toothbrush or a sticker with Elsa on it. My son had his first visit around 12 months, and honestly, it was pretty much just a quick peek and some friendly chatting with the dentist. But I think it made a difference in how comfortable he felt later on. He's four now and actually gets excited about going—mostly because our dentist has this giant treasure chest full of little toys he can pick from afterward.
But you're right about personality being a big factor. My friend's daughter started early too, but she still gets super anxious every single time. Some kids just take longer to warm up to things like that...and that's totally okay. The important thing is building trust gradually, so they know it's not something scary or painful (hopefully!). And hey, if ice cream bribes work... no judgment here. Whatever gets you both through the day, right?
