Wimbledon Children's Dentist Guide: What to Expect at Every Age

Your child's dental needs change enormously between their first wobbly tooth and their first set of GCSEs. What matters at six months looks nothing like what matters at sixteen, and knowing roughly what happens at each stage takes a lot of the worry out of it. This guide walks Wimbledon parents through what to expect at every age, from those first milk teeth to the teenage years, so you always know what's coming next.

Babies and toddlers (0–3 years)

Dental care starts the moment the first tooth appears. The NHS advises taking your child to the dentist when their first milk teeth come through, usually around six months, and by their first birthday at the latest. These early visits are about familiarity rather than treatment: a gentle look, a chat about brushing and weaning, and a chance for your little one to get comfortable in the chair, often sitting on your lap.

At home, the basics make the biggest difference:

• Brush twice a day as soon as that first tooth arrives, using a smear of fluoride toothpaste.
• Avoid sugary drinks in bottles and never put a baby to bed with juice or milk to sip.
• Lift the lip now and then to check for early white or brown marks near the gum line.

Pre-school and early school years (3–7 years)

This is when routines really embed. Children should be brushing twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste, supervised by an adult until around age seven, as the NHS recommends. At our Wimbledon practice we make these check-ups quick and positive, counting teeth, a gentle clean and plenty of praise. We may also discuss fluoride varnish, which can be applied to help protect against decay, and start gently watching how the adult teeth are developing underneath.

Mixed dentition and the wobbly-tooth years (7–12 years)

Between roughly seven and twelve, baby teeth give way to adult ones, a stage dentists call mixed dentition. It's an important window. The first permanent molars come through around age six, and these are a common spot for decay, so they're worth keeping a close eye on. This is also when we start assessing the bite and tooth alignment. Most children are referred for an orthodontic assessment around age 10–12 if needed; we'll raise it with you at a routine family check-up if it's worth considering.

Two simple habits protect this age group most: cutting back on between-meal sugar, and never skipping the nighttime brush. As children grow more independent with brushing, it's worth checking in now and then, a quick look at how thoroughly they're cleaning, especially those new back molars, often catches the spots they're missing.

Helping a nervous child at any age

Some children take dental visits in their stride; others find them daunting, and that's completely normal. The best thing parents can do is keep their own language relaxed and positive, avoid words like "hurt", "drill" or "injection", and talk about the dentist simply "counting" and "checking" teeth. Booking a morning appointment, when children are fresher, and letting younger ones sit on a parent's lap both help enormously. Our team is used to nervous young patients and will always go at your child's pace.

How often should a child be seen?

There's no single answer, the right interval depends on your child's individual risk of decay. The table below summarises the general NHS guidance our team works to.

For more on recall intervals, see the NICE dental recall guidance. Your dentist will always tailor timing to your child.

The teenage years (12–18 years)

Teenagers bring their own challenges: braces, sports, busy social lives and the temptation of sugary or fizzy drinks. Many will be in or considering orthodontic treatment such as Invisalign for teens, which makes thorough cleaning more important than ever. We often recommend adding a hygienist visit at this stage to keep gums healthy around brackets and aligners. If your teenager plays rugby, hockey or football, a custom mouthguard is well worth it.

This is also the age to talk honestly about smoking and vaping. The NHS is clear that both carry real health risks, including for the mouth and gums, and the teenage years are exactly when those conversations land best.

What it costs

NHS dental care is free for children under 18 in England. We also offer private children's appointments, which allow longer, calmer, more flexible slots around the school day. Here are our real, transparent prices.

Prices are confirmed at your appointment. See our full general & family dentistry page for the complete list, or visit our homepage to learn more about the practice.

Frequently asked questions