Your Child's First Dental Visit in Lisle, IL
Children should see the dentist by age 1, or within 6 months of the first tooth appearing, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). Drs. Brammeier and Ericson and our team at Brammeier Family Dental keep first visits positive, comfortable, and fun. Setting up a dental home this early is the surest way to prevent cavities, spot problems early, and start your child on a lifetime of healthy habits.
When to come
By the first birthday or within 6 months of the first tooth. Since tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, an early visit lays the foundation for prevention.
What we cover
Diet, hygiene practices, fluoride use, cavity risk, growth and development, teething, oral habits (pacifier/thumbsucking), and ways to prevent dental trauma.
Why it matters
An established dental home means fewer cavities, fewer emergency visits, and stronger long-term oral health outcomes. Prevention begins at the first visit.
That first visit sets the stage for a lifetime of healthy smiles. Schedule your child's appointment today.
What Happens at the First Visit
- A gentle examination covering your child's teeth, gums, jaw, and bite
- A conversation about your child's diet and feeding habits, from bottle and breastfeeding to sippy cup use
- A read on your child's risk for cavities drawn from oral hygiene, diet, and family history
- Hands-on guidance on proper brushing and flossing techniques suited to your child's age
- Practical information on fluoride use, oral habits, teething, and preventing dental trauma
- Above all, Drs. Brammeier and Ericson and our team keep the experience positive and fun, building trust for the visits to come
They're Not Just Baby Teeth!
- Baby teeth do the work of chewing, speaking, and smiling
- They reserve room for permanent teeth, and losing one too early lets permanent teeth drift and come in crooked
- Cavities in baby teeth are contagious, with bacteria spreading to neighboring teeth and even to developing permanent teeth
- Left untreated, infections in baby teeth can bring pain, swelling, and damage to the permanent teeth underneath
- Looking after baby teeth instills the habits children carry into adulthood
- When a baby tooth is lost prematurely, a space maintainer may be needed to keep the space open
Growing Up Healthy
Tooth Eruption Timeline
- ~6 months: The first baby teeth, the lower front teeth, start to erupt
- ~Age 3: All 20 baby teeth are typically in
- ~Age 6: The first permanent molars come in behind the baby teeth, a good time for dental sealants right away
- Ages 6–7: Baby teeth start falling out as permanent teeth take their place
- ~Age 12: The last baby teeth are usually gone
- ~Age 13: Most of the 28 permanent teeth have arrived (wisdom teeth follow later)
Healthy Snacking for Healthy Teeth
- Skip sugary and starchy snacks, because starches break down into sugars that feed cavity-causing bacteria
- Steer clear of gummy, sticky snacks: fruit snacks, gummy vitamins, raisins, and taffy cling to teeth and do more damage
- Hold back on acidic drinks: sports drinks, soft drinks, and most fruit juices lower the pH in the mouth and weaken enamel
- Trim between-meal snacking to shorten the time teeth sit in acid
- Reach for raw fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole grain crackers, and water as healthier alternatives
Early visits, good habits, and a dental home make up the recipe for a cavity-free childhood.
How to Prevent Cavities
Daily Habits
- Brush every morning and night for two minutes, lending a hand until your child is at least age 7
- Start with a rice-grain-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste from the first tooth, moving up to pea-sized at age 3
- Floss every night as soon as teeth begin touching each other
- Never send your child to bed with a bottle of milk, juice, or any sweetened liquid
- Transition to a regular cup by age 1, and keep sippy cup use to a minimum
Professional Care
- See Drs. Brammeier and Ericson every 6 months for exams and cleanings, since children who come regularly get fewer cavities
- Request professional fluoride treatments at every cleaning
- Have dental sealants placed on permanent molars the moment they erupt
- Raise any concerns about oral habits, tooth development, or your child's bite
- Catching decay in its early stages spares your child more invasive treatment later
Frequently Asked Questions
Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, and it can begin the moment the first tooth appears. An early visit lets Drs. Brammeier and Ericson gauge your child's risk, offer feeding and hygiene guidance, and catch problems before they turn serious. Children who establish a dental home early enjoy better long-term outcomes.
We design first visits to be gentle, positive, and fun. Your child explores the office at their own pace while we explain everything in child-friendly language and use a 'show-tell-do' approach. Earning trust early makes every future visit far easier.
Plan on supervising and helping with brushing until at least age 7, since young children lack the dexterity to do it effectively on their own. Let your child practice, then follow up to be sure every surface is clean, especially the back teeth.
Yes. The AAPD recommends a tiny smear (rice-grain-sized) of fluoride toothpaste from the first tooth, growing to a pea-sized amount at age 3. Always supervise brushing and teach your child to spit the toothpaste out rather than swallow it.
Keep it simple and upbeat. Read children's books about going to the dentist, role-play at home with a toothbrush, and avoid words like 'hurt' or 'shot.' Tell your child the dentist will count and clean their teeth. Your attitude matters most, because a relaxed parent makes for a relaxed child.
A cavity in a baby tooth still needs treatment. Left alone, the decay causes pain, can spread to other teeth, and may harm the permanent teeth developing underneath. Which treatment fits depends on your child's age and how far the decay has progressed. Learn more about early childhood caries.
Give your child the gift of a healthy smile. Book their first dental visit today.
Visit Us
Visit Brammeier Family Dental
Office Hours
Monday11am – 7pm
Tuesday7am – 4pm
Wednesday7am – 4pm
Thursday7am – 2pm
FridayBy Appointment
Sat – SunClosed