Dental caries (tooth decay or cavities) is said to be the most chronic childhood ailment — five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever — especially among ages 5 to 17. Oral health problems among infants are no less serious.1
Needless to say, the above findings call for vigilance among us (parents and dental practitioners alike) to take early preventive dental care very seriously:
We recommend that you take your child to a Pediatric Dentist within 6 months after the first tooth erupts. The purpose of this first visit is to establish a positive relationship with your child and evaluate your child’s dental health.
On this first visit, we will also introduce you to effective dental hygiene practices and dismiss common dental myths–some really useful information that will aid you in properly caring for your child’s teeth. By starting dental visits at an early age, you will help your child have a favorable outlook towards dental health throughout his or her life.
1 http://www.yourdentistryguide.com/children: "Pediatric Dentistry: Dental Care for Children and Infants" authored by Lesley Ranft, and reviewed by Joel Berg, DDS, MS