The short answer: when the first tooth appears, or by the child's first birthday — whichever comes first. This is the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and is increasingly followed by paediatric dental societies in West Africa. Most parents in Nigeria and Ghana bring children in considerably later, usually when there is already decay or pain.
Why so early?
Baby teeth matter more than most parents realise. They hold space for permanent teeth, help with speech development, and let children chew properly for the first decade of their life. Early childhood caries — tooth decay in young children — is the most common chronic childhood disease, and it is almost entirely preventable.
Decay in baby teeth can progress rapidly. A small cavity in a three-year-old can reach the nerve in weeks. The resulting pain affects sleep, concentration, and appetite. Dental infections in young children occasionally require hospital treatment.
"The first visit is not primarily about treatment — it is about establishing a baseline, catching problems early, and helping the child see a dental chair as somewhere normal rather than somewhere frightening."
— Dr. Funke Adesina, BDS, FDS Paediatric Dentistry
What happens at the first visit
A first visit for an infant or toddler is brief — typically 20–30 minutes. The dentist will count the erupted teeth, look for any early signs of decay, check the bite, and assess the gum tissue. They will ask about feeding habits (extended bottle use and frequent sweet drinks are the leading cause of early childhood caries) and demonstrate how to clean a baby's gums and first teeth with a soft cloth or silicone fingertip brush.
Some children this age will not open their mouth cooperatively. Experienced paediatric dentists handle this routinely — the goal is not a thorough examination but a positive first encounter and a reasonable look inside.
What to do before first teeth appear
Clean your baby's gums with a soft damp cloth after each feed from birth. When the first tooth erupts — usually around 6 months — switch to a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste on a soft-bristled baby toothbrush. Do not wait until the child can brush independently before introducing toothpaste.
Avoid putting a child to bed with a bottle of milk or juice. The sugars pool around the front teeth while the child sleeps and cause what is sometimes called "bottle caries" or "nursing caries" — rapid decay of the upper front teeth that is extremely difficult to treat in a young child.
After the first visit
Once you have established a relationship with a dentist, check-ups every 6 months are the standard recommendation. Some children with higher decay risk (those with a history of early caries, or who consume frequent sweet snacks) benefit from three-monthly visits and fluoride varnish applications. Your dentist will advise based on what they see.