One of the most common questions I hear as a pediatric dentist is, “When should I start bringing my child to the dentist?”

I remember a dad walking into my office, his chubby-cheeked one-year-old daughter perched on his hip. He glanced around, a bit unsure, and asked, “So… am I too early? Too late?”

I smiled. “Actually, you’re right on time.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Wait—you’re telling me my baby, who barely has any teeth, already needs a dentist?”

I chuckled. “Yep! Baby teeth matter. Early visits help catch any issues before they start, and they also help kids get comfortable with the dentist.”

The American Dental Association (ADA) celebrates National Children’s Dental Health Month every February, highlighting the importance of good oral health in children. Good habits started early will help children keep healthy, bright smiles for life. Here are some oral health tips to keep every child’s smile bright and healthy:

Your child’s first dental visit should happen when their first tooth appears, or latest by their first birthday. Early check-ups allow dentists to monitor tooth development, prevent cavities, and answer parents’ questions about oral health. As your child starts teething, the dentist will be able to monitor progress.

Regular visits every six months help keep baby teeth healthy, and baby teeth matter. These early teeth help children eat, speak, and hold space for adult teeth. Without regular six-month check-ups and good oral health habits at an early age, small cavities can lead to much larger problems. Cavities in baby teeth can cause pain, infections, and even problems with adult teeth. I always encourage patients and their parents to treat baby teeth as carefully as they would adult teeth.

Early childhood tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, affecting more children more than asthma. According to the ADA, over 40% of children have tooth decay by kindergarten, and a recent poll found that only three in five parents of children ages 4 to 17 said their child brushes their teeth the recommended two times a day. Children with poor oral health are also three times more likely to miss school due to dental pain.

• Healthy Habits Start Early
• Wipe your baby’s gums with a damp cloth after feeding.
• Start brushing with fluoride toothpaste as soon as the first tooth appears. Brush twice a day using a smear (the size of a grain of rice) of fluoride toothpaste for children under 3, and a pea-sized amount for children ages 3 and up. Always supervise young children while brushing as they are more likely to swallow toothpaste.
• Start to floss daily when a child’s teeth touch. Parents should continue flossing their child’s teeth until they can floss independently.
• Limit sugary drinks and choose water instead.
• Offer tooth-friendly snacks like cheese or yogurt instead of sticky, sugary treats.
  Visit the dentist every six months for check-ups.

Now is a great time to schedule your child’s dental visit with a dentist. Let’s start early with our children to promote a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Cheen Loo is chair and professor of pediatric dentistry at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine