Kids usually get their first tooth before they're a year old. As soon as your child has their first tooth, start brushing it. Use a soft bristled toothbrush and a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste. Brush each tooth thoroughly, and don’t forget to brush their gums, too. 

As your child grows and more of their baby teeth start to come out, you can start using a grain-of-rice-sized dab of toothpaste to brush all of their teeth. Once they know how to spit on command and won’t swallow it, you can use a pea-sized dab of toothpaste.

You should brush your child’s teeth at least twice a day for two minutes. We recommend brushing once in the morning right after they wake up, and once before they go to bed. You also should make sure you come to our office every six months for preventive care. Routine oral exams and teeth cleanings help our team keep an eye on your child’s oral health, and help ensure their teeth and gums stay healthy.

The typical recommendation is that kids should start seeing the dentist whenever their first tooth comes out, or whenever they turn one year old, whichever comes first. Bringing your child to the dentist from a very early age helps them get used to routine dental visits and also ensures that you can keep track of their oral health and development as they grow.

Bringing your child to the dentist every six months also helps you learn more about their oral hygiene, and how to take care of your child’s teeth properly throughout infancy, toddlerhood, childhood, and beyond. For these reasons, we highly recommend scheduling your child for their first dental visit right away if they're over a year old and have not yet been to the dentist.

But if your child is older and still hasn’t seen the dentist, don’t worry! The best time to start coming to Mission Peak Pediatric Dentistry is today. Dr. Wang is an experienced pediatric dentist in Fremont, CA, and offers expert care for kids of all ages. At our child-friendly dental office, your little ones can always get the treatment they need to keep their mouths healthy and their smiles bright.

Infants and very young toddlers who do not yet have all of their baby teeth usually do not need dental x-rays. However, if your child has most or all of their baby teeth, we may recommend that they get x-rays taken of their teeth. This will usually be done before their teeth cleaning. Dental x-rays are 100% safe for kids of all ages, and our team will keep your kiddo comfortable while they have x-rays taken of their teeth.

Next, one of our dental hygienists will gently clean your child’s teeth and gums. If you have an infant or a very young toddler, you can hold them in your lap as they have their teeth cleaned. Otherwise, they’ll sit in one of our dental chairs, and our dental team will take care of the rest.

After their teeth cleaning, you and your child will meet Dr. Michael Wang. Dr. Wang will go over their x-rays (if applicable), then perform an oral exam to check on the health and development of your child’s teeth and gums. Next, Dr. Wang will discuss your child’s oral health with you, and let you know if he’s found any issues that need further treatment.

At this time, you will also have the opportunity to ask Dr. Wang any questions that you may have about your child’s mouth, how to clean their teeth, and how to keep their smile healthy. We encourage questions, so think about what you may want to ask Dr. Wang before your child’s first appointment!

We always recommend teaching your child a little bit about the dentist before their first preventive dental visit. You can watch age-appropriate educational videos about dentistry on YouTube, and there are lots of children’s books about dentistry that you can buy or get from the library.

We also recommend scheduling your little one’s first dentist appointment in the morning, if possible. If they're bright-eyed and well-rested, they’ll be more likely to have a good time during their visit, and less likely to be cranky or difficult.

Bringing a few comfort items and toys is also a good idea. Mission Peak Pediatric Dentistry has a child-friendly waiting area with plenty of things for your little one to do, but having familiar toys or objects from home can also help your child feel more comfortable and relaxed.