Convincing your son or daughter to care for their precious smile isn’t always easy. If getting your child to brush their teeth is hard enough, you may be avoiding the question: “Should my kid floss?” However, dental and pediatric experts alike report that children should start to floss daily as soon as they have two touching teeth. While this may seem pretty early for you to try to teach your little one this healthy habit, it’s an important decision for their long-term oral health. Here are seven reasons why your Castle Rock pediatric dentist recommends your little one starts flossing every day at a young age!

The next school year is just around the corner! Between the hustle and bustle of gathering supplies and getting your son or daughter ready to go back to school, did you remember to schedule their biannual dental checkup? These routine visits play a key role in keeping your little one’s oral health on track and preventing dental issues that could cause them to miss school later. Here are five questions to ask your Castle Rock pediatric dentist during your child’s back-to-school checkup.

While parenting comes with a lot of joy and excitement, it can also come with a lot of questions. Is your fussy three-month-old teething already? Is it normal for your child to celebrate their first birthday with only one tooth? Thankfully, while baby teeth typically follow a general timeline when coming in, there is plenty of room for flexibility as your little one’s smile develops. Even so, it can be helpful to have a general idea of what to expect in the coming months. Read on to learn more about when you might see each of your son or daughter’s baby teeth appear.

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.