While you can take them earlier, experts recommend bringing them in within 6 months of their first tooth erupting, or by 12 months at the latest. During this visit, the dentist can provide guidance on:

- Baby bottle tooth decay
- Infant feeding practices
- Mouth cleaning
- Teething
- Pacifier use
- Finger-sucking habits

Protect your children's teeth at home
Here are some tips to protect your children's teeth:

- Before teeth come in, clean gums with a clean, damp cloth.
- Start brushing with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and a very small amount of toothpaste (the size of a grain of rice) when your child's first tooth appears. Use a pea-sized dab of fluoridated toothpaste after 3 years of age. This is when the child is old enough to spit out the toothpaste after brushing.
- Prevent baby bottle tooth decay. Don't give children a bottle of milk, juice, or sweetened liquid at bedtime or when put down to nap.
- Limit the time your child has a bottle.
- Help your child brush his or her own teeth until age 7 or 8. Have the child watch you brush, and follow the same brushing pattern to reduce missed spots.
- Limit foods and treats that increase tooth decay. This includes hard or sticky candies, fruit leather, and sweetened drinks and juice. Offer fruit rather than juice.