Children’s Dental Care

This is a good time to introduce your child to a dentist in Wheat Ridge. An easy way to do this in a fun, non-threatening way is to bring them with you to your routine check-up and cleaning. Your child can watch you and the dentist interact. They will see the dentist looking in your mouth, cleaning your teeth, etc. If your child is comfortable, the dentist could have a quick look in their mouth while they sit on your lap in the dental chair.

Doing this a few times with you will help your child understand that the dentist is not “scary”. At this age, your child should begin brushing their teeth twice a day with a child-sized, soft-bristled toothbrush. You will want to be involved with this process, making sure the teeth are brushed thoroughly. Also, you will want to teach your child to spit the toothpaste out and not allow them to swallow it.

Children should have a dental exam and cleaning twice a year by this age. Bitewing x-rays, which allow the dentist to detect cavities in individual teeth, are recommended once a year. A panoramic x-ray that allows the dentist to see an x-ray of your child’s entire mouth, including the developing adult teeth, should be taken once every 2-3 years. Sealants will be recommended as molars start growing in. The dentist will begin to evaluate for orthodontic needs (braces) during this age as well.