A presentation we created for new parents to learn the basics of childhood oral healthcare.

1. Frequently Asked Questions:
Pediatric Providers

2. Dental Trivia!
Bottles, Sippy
The First Teeth coming, Keeping Teeth Common Dental
Cups, and
Dental Visit teeth going Clean Issues
Thumb-sucking
10 10 10 10 10
20 20 20 20 20
30 30 30 30 30
40 40 40 40 40

3. The First Visit for 10!
At what age should my child first see a
dentist?
1 year old
Your child should visit a pediatric
dentist when their first tooth comes
in, usually between 6 & 12 months.
Establishing a dental home early can
prevent decay in the future.

4. The First Visit for 20!
How often should my child see the
dentist?
Every six months!
An exam, cleaning, and fluoride
treatment is recommended
twice per year to prevent
cavities. It also allows the
dentist to track your child’s
dental development.

5. The First Visit for 30!
True or False: My child should get a
fluoride treatment at the dentist every
six months.
True!
A fluoride treatment is like vitamins
for your teeth. They are excellent
in helping teeth stay healthy, and
we recommend a treatment every 6
months. In fact, studies show that
toddlers who get fluoride twice a
year are four times less likely to
have cavities.

6. The First Visit for 40!
True or False: My child has to be added
to our dental insurance before I can
bring them in.
False!
We offer free new patient visits for
all children under the age of 2 if
they are not yet added to your
dental insurance plan.

7. Teeth Coming, Teeth Going for 10!
At what age will my baby start getting
teeth?
5-12 months of age

8. Teeth Coming, Teeth Going for 20!
True or False: There is one solution for
teething that works better than the
rest.
False!
Every child responds to teething a little
bit differently, and the things that
will soothe that child will vary as
well. Some suggestions:
1. Cold rings or washcloths
2. Rub the gums with finger
3. Topical anesthetics when feeding
4. Children’s acetaminophen or ibuprofen

9. Teeth Coming, Teeth Going for 30!
True or False: Diarrhea, rashes, and
fever are a normal part of teething.
False!
As their teeth erupt, some babies may become
fussy, sleepless and irritable, lose their appetite
or drool more than usual.
Diarrhea, rashes and a fever are not normal for a
teething baby. If your infant has a fever or
diarrhea while teething or continues to be cranky
and uncomfortable, call your physician.

10. Teeth Coming, Teeth Going for 40!
When will my child start losing teeth?
5-7 years old
Children usually lose their
teeth in almost the same
order they come in.

11. Bottles, Pacifiers, Sippy Cups, and
Thumbsucking for 10!
Is it okay to let my child fall asleep
with a bottle?
No!
When your child falls to sleep with a bottle, it leaves
milk sitting on their teeth all night long, which can
cause decay.

12. Bottles, Pacifiers, Sippy Cups, and
Thumbsucking for 20!
At what age should bottle or breast
feeding be stopped?
12-14 months!
Switching to a cup for all liquids
after a child’s first birthday
allows for a more regulated
drinking schedule.

13. Bottles, Pacifiers, Sippy Cups, and
Thumbsucking for 30!
What is the only drink my child should
have in their sippy cup during the
day?
Water!
Allowing a child to drink sugary liquids
like juice from their sippy cups
periodically throughout the day allows
for repeated acid attacks on their teeth.

14. Bottles, Pacifiers, Sippy Cups and
Thumbsucking for 40!
By what age should my child stop any
thumb/pacifier habits?
Three!
Thumbsucking is perfectly normal for
infants. Most stop around the age
of 2. It should be discouraged after
the age of 3. Prolonged
thumbsucking can create crowded,
crooked teeth.

15. Keeping Teeth Clean for 10!
At what age should I start cleaning my
baby’s teeth?
6-12 months of age
While your baby is toothless, wipe his/her
gums down with a wet washcloth after
each feeding.
With the eruption of the first teeth, clean
your child’s gum with a soft infant
fingerbrush.
At 12-18 months, start brushing with a
toddler-sized toothbrush.

16. Keeping Teeth Clean for 20!
At what age should my child start
using toothpaste?
12 months of age
Between 12-24 months, use only a smear of toothpaste.
After 2, use no more than a pea-sized amount.
Fluoridated toothpaste is okay after 12 months of age.

17. Keeping Teeth Clean for 30!
At what age should I let my child
brush their teeth on their own?
3 years old (with help)
Around the age of 3, it is great to let your
child brush their teeth on their own.
However, until you feel they are doing a
great job, you should brush their teeth
as well.
Let your child brush for one minute, and
then brush their teeth for one minute
yourself.

18. Keeping Teeth Clean for 40!
When should I start flossing my
child’s teeth?
As soon as there are two teeth
that touch!
The sooner you can start the habit as part
of your normal oral healthcare routine,
the better!

19. Common Dental Issues for 10!
True or False: This picture shows what
is called “double-parking.”
True!
Sometimes permanent teeth start coming in before baby teeth have had
enough time to be wiggled out. Your child can try to wiggle out the
baby teeth, or the dentist may need to extract them in the office.

20. Common Dental Issues for 20!
My child fell and bumped his baby tooth.
It looks okay…do I need to call the
dentist?
Yes!
It is important to check for damage
to the root of the tooth, and this is
usually something that can only be
seen with an x-ray.

21. Common Dental Issues for 30!
My child is grinding his/her teeth at
night. Should I be worried?
Not until the permanent teeth are in
Tooth grinding is very common for
children. There is no need to worry
unless you see excess wear on the
teeth. Once the permanent teeth are
in, it may be necessary for your
child to wear a mouth guard at
night.

22. Common Dental Issues for 40!
My child has a sore on his/her gums.
What do I do?
Call your dentist!
If your child has red, puffy
gums and/or a sore that looks
sort of like a pimple, call
your dentist immediately.
This could be a serious
infection that needs
immediate attention.

23. A little bit about our practice!
We have 3 office locations:
Arvada, at 64th and McIntyre
Greenwood Village, at Orchard and Holly
Centennial, at Orchard and Parker
We are open Monday-Friday
We offer both late and early appointments to help navigate school
schedules and after school activities.
We offer the latest technology
We have digital intraoral and extraoral x-rays, along with intraoral
camera images. We have TVs and video games available for both
patients and parents.

24. More Questions?
Please don’t hesitate to ask!
Feel free to call or email the office at any time with any questions.
We are here to help with all of your dental needs!