Is your son or daughter nervous about their first visit to the dentist? The unfamiliar experience alongside all the new sights, sounds, and faces at a dental practice can sometimes be overwhelming for your little one. Thankfully, there are several simple ways you can prepare them for their appointment and help them feel more at-ease in the dentist’s examination chair. Here are some practical tips from your Castle Rock pediatric dentist to make your child’s first dental visit a great one!

Castle Rock Smiles Pediatric Dentistry is celebrating its 10^th anniversary! To mark this occasion, Dr. Benzley and his team would like to share some of their accomplishments as well as the efforts made to improve the health and wellbeing of the residents within Castle Rock and its surrounding populations. As a family-owned dental practice whose mission is to serve the community and help individuals achieve healthier smiles, help us celebrate this outstanding achievement!

For kids, getting your hands dirty is part of the fun of childhood. As a parent, however, you may be worried about all the germs they come into contact with, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s where hand hygiene comes in! Hands down (no pun intended), it’s one of the best defenses we have against bacteria and viruses, including COVID-19. But it’s important to teach kids how and when to wash their hands to make sure they’re being effective. Keep reading to learn more about the importance of kids’ hand washing and how you can instill good habits in your child. 

As you keep your child physically active during the current COVID-19 quarantine, are you taking steps to protect their smiles as well? The last thing you need during the coronavirus lockdown is for your little one to crack or knock out a tooth! That’s why it’s so important for them to wear a mouthguard, even if they’re just playing football with the family in the backyard to pass the time at home. Here’s everything your Castle Rock dentist wants you to know about how sports mouthguards for children can protect your child’s growing smile.

Many teens get braces as they’re transitioning from middle to high school. During this time, they’re likely trying out for varsity athletic teams to begin their sports careers. As a parent, you’re concerned about how they’re going to protect their teeth from impact if they have bulky braces that prevent a sports mouthguard from fitting. Read on to learn more about customized mouthguards from your dentist that are meant to provide the best possible protection for your little one. 

Whether it is a pacifier or thumb sucking, it is likely that your child picked up on one of these two ways to “comfort” themselves at an early age. Although cute and sweet when little, over time, these bad habits can have a negative impact on their oral health, most especially their teeth. To find out what can happen as a result of these coping and comforting mechanisms, hear from a pediatric dentist who will also be happy to share what you can do to keep your little one happy while protecting their teeth.

There’s nothing greater than watching your baby’s gummy smile morph into an adorable mouth of teeth. And while the pictures will keep you smiling for a lifetime, you may be wondering, “when should my baby get their first tooth?” If you’re worried that a tooth should have already come in, let a pediatric dentist explain exactly what and when to expect those first primary teeth to come through.

Sometimes it seems like there are far too many options out there for choosing your child’s toothbrush. Depending on how old your child is, their toothbrush needs may vary in size and shape, not to mention which color or cartoon character they want featured on their brush! That’s why your children’s dentist has created this guide on how to pick out the right toothbrush for your little one.

Does your child bite their fingernails? It’s not an uncommon habit among kids. Like hair twisting and thumb sucking, children use it as a means of self-soothing when they’re nervous, scared, unsure, or bored. However, unlike other self-soothing habits formed in childhood, children are more likely to continue nail biting as they get older. According to recent studies, around 50% of children between the ages of 10 and 18 chew on their fingernails. Thankfully this habit will usually go away on its own without any long-term effects. However, in the case of overaggressive or frequent nail biting, especially when your child’s teeth are developing, it can cause serious damage. Here’s how chewing on fingernails can hurt your child’s teeth, and how you can help your little one break this bad habit before the damage is done.

Has your son or daughter recently lost a tooth? We all know that the tooth fairy is expected to leave money under your child’s pillow in exchange for the lost tooth. However, instead of doing what everyone else does, why not mix it up with these fun alternative ideas for tooth fairy visits? Read on to learn three ideas for tooth fairy visits that don’t involve money.