Did you know the number of tooth decay and cavities have down for every single age group except those between the ages of two and five?

Did you know your child's first dental visit should be no later than when he or she turns 12 months old?

Kendra Morgan has been bringing her daughters, Kalea and Jaina, to the dentist for the last three years.

During that time, they've been able to catch some problems early for Kalea and help Jaina get through a tooth emergency.

"Jaina had a fall where she injured a tooth, actually it pushed back up into her gums," Morgan explained.

"She wanted to come see the dentist and was eager to come to get it checked out."

But because she had been to the dentist before it wasn't a traumatic experience.

Dr. Heidi Stark said that's just one reason children should come to the dentist early, to get familiar with them. She said the sooner, the better.

"We like to have a child come to the dentist around age one or when they get their first teeth," said Heidi Stark, D.D.S, Lincoln Pediatric Dentistry.

That's also good a time for parents to learn about correct brushing and diet habits.

"The third reason we like to have children come to the dentist is because obviously we need to check, we want to make sure they're not developing any cavities," Stark said.

While bringing your child to the dentist is a good start, there's also some things you can do at home to help prevent those early cavities -- like helping your children brush their teeth.

"That's extremely important to brush in the morning after breakfast and most important to brush at nighttime before bed," Stark said.

Also, keep your anxiety about the dentist away from your children. Another important tip is to watch the snacks -- like fruit juice, pop and the ones that stick to your teeth.

"Fruit snacks and fruit roll ups are really yummy, but they're extremely sugary, so if they stick in the grooves of their back teeth then those kids often have cavities," Stark said.

Finally, avoid the bedtime bottle, unless it's filled with water. Other beverages can lead to cavities.

"Kids that come to the dentist at age one tend to not have cavities because their parents are brushing their teeth and they're also careful with the frequency of sweets in their diets," Stark said.

The regular dental visits have paid off for the Morgan sisters.

"Sometimes they don't want to leave when it's done," Morgan said.

Fluoride is also crucial for developing strong, healthy teeth. Lincoln has fluoride in its water, but if you live in a town that doesn't you should check with your dentist about how to incorporate fluoride in your child's dental plan.

Statistics show dental costs for children who have their first dental visit by the time they're one are 40 percent lower in the first five years than for those who don't see a dentist prior to their first birthday.