Why the begin-early mantra is a significant prevention strategy in dentistry

It used to break my heart a little, when parents would bring in their child for the first time to a dentist, usually because of an emergency—a swollen cheek, a visible hole in a tooth, tears of pain. The child’s first memory of a dental clinic, therefore, was fear, bright lights, and the sound of a drill. It’s how a lot of us grew up thinking dentistry worked: you wait until it hurts, then you fix it. Thankfully, that script is being rewritten.

Getting ahead

In paediatric dentistry today, a quiet revolution is underway. We’re realising that waiting for disease to announce itself is a losing battle. Tooth decay doesn’t have to be a normal part of childhood. Most of the time, if we get ahead of it, cavities don’t stand a chance. We’re shifting our energy from repair to prevention, and, honestly, it feels like a win for everyone: from fix-it to fit-in.

Remember your first dental visit? Mine was at five, and I had three cavities. That was pretty standard back then. But by five, a lot of damage can already be done. The advice now is to see a child by their first birthday. I know—it sounds wild. What are we going to do, check gums? Talk about baby food? Exactly. That first visit is a “well-baby checkup” for the mouth. We look at those few new teeth, chat about feeding (that bedtime bottle can be tricky), show parents how to clean tiny gums, and demystify fluoride. It’s not scary — it’s a conversation. We might suggest swapping out sticky dried fruit for cheese, or perfecting the angle of a toothbrush. These tiny tweaks? They build a fortress against future problems. This changes the whole story. Dentistry stops being the “scary place you go to when things go wrong” and becomes part of regular health maintenance, like a vaccination. It’s about building trust from the ground up. These gentle, early visits create a powerful new memory: the dentist’s office is a normal place. That alone can prevent a lifetime of white-knuckling in the dental chair.

Low tech tools

Our best tools are surprisingly low-tech. The most effective parts of prevention aren’t fancy. They’re simple, almost humble. Take Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF). It’s a liquid we paint on a soft, early cavity. No needle, no drill. It stops the decay in its tracks. Does it stain the spot? Yes, it turns it dark. But for a terrified toddler, or for a family in a rural community without easy clinic access, it’s a miracle. It’s a pause button that prevents immense pain. Fluoride varnish is another superstar. It’s a quick paint-on treatment at check-ups that strengthens enamel. School programmes love it because it reaches kids who might not see a dentist otherwise. And then there’s the toothbrush. It sounds obvious, but it’s the MVP. Using a rice-grain smear of fluoride toothpaste for toddlers, and actually watching them brush (not just hearing the water run!) until they’re about eight, cuts cavity risk dramatically. This daily, sometimes messy, two-minute habit is the real foundation.

Why this matters

Tooth decay is still the most common chronic disease in kids worldwide. It’s preventable, yet it causes missed school days, pain, and infections. Where prevention programmes are in place, cavity rates drop. It’s that simple. The money angle is simple, too. Preventing a cavity costs a fraction of fixing one. It saves families from emergency costs, lost work days, and the emotional toll of seeing their child in pain. But it’s bigger than teeth. A child with a toothache can’t eat well, sleep well, or focus in school. Their whole world shrinks. Research also keeps finding links between chronic mouth inflammation and other, later, health issues. The mouth is the front door to the body’s health. That is why this is about equity, education, and access. School nurses and community health workers are crucial partners. In a diverse country like India, these simple, early steps can bridge gaps that fancy clinics can’t always reach.

This shift is changing my job description. I spend more time teaching and coaching than drilling. I collaborate with pediatricians—because if a child is at the doctor for a checkup, why not quickly check their mouth, too? We’re teaming up with teachers and local leaders to make oral health a normal part of the conversation about a child’s well-being.

A hopeful look forward

The bottom line is getting clearer: we can prevent most oral health problems. Early, simple actions can spare kids from trauma, save families money, and build a foundation for lifelong health. By focusing on prevention, we’re not just fixing problems—we’re preventing the fear and the financial strain that comes with them. We’re giving kids the gift of a confident smile and a healthier start.

In the end, it’s not just about saving teeth. It’s about saving kids from ever needing us to fix them in the first place. And that’s a future worth smiling about.

(Dr. Sowjanya Gunkula is a U.S.-licensed dentist with international training who focuses on preventive and evidence-based oral healthcare and contributes to advancing community and public health dentistry. sowji.gunukula@gmail.com)