Should kids get routine dental X‐rays?

The Day I Found 8 Cavities in My Own Child

I remember it like it was yesterday. My first son had just turned 3, and I brought him in for a dental wellness visit at my own practice. We did a routine cleaning, and I examined his teeth. Normally, I wouldn’t take X-rays on a child that young, but he was so calm and cooperative—I thought, why not give it a try?

What I saw next stopped me in my tracks.

Eight cavities. Eight!!!

Cue the mom guilt. How could this happen? I’m a dentist! Shouldn’t I know better? I felt like I had just won the “Worst Mom of the Year” award.

But that moment became a turning point—one that sparked a journey filled with learning, growth, and ultimately, healing for my entire family.

I’m sharing this—not to shame myself, or any other parent—but to highlight a truth that often gets overlooked:

👉 Interproximal cavities (the ones between the teeth) cannot be diagnosed without X-rays.

So, does every child need dental X-rays?
The short answer: No.
The long answer: It depends.

Here are some important factors that influence that decision:

🫁 Is your child a mouth breather?
Mouth breathing reduces saliva flow and changes oral pH, making cavities (especially interproximal ones) more likely.

🍔 Is your child eating a Standard American Diet (SAD)?
Highly processed foods, added sugars, and synthetic additives set the stage not just for cavities, but for chronic inflammation and other health issues.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Do other family members have cavities?
Cavities are contagious. Babies aren’t born with cavity-causing bacteria—they’re passed along through shared utensils, food, or even kisses on the mouth.

☀️ Is your child low in fat-soluble vitamins (like D3)?
Vitamins A, D, E, and K are essential for moving minerals into the teeth and bones. Without them, teeth are more vulnerable to decay.

So what’s the right thing to do?

Like all things in medicine, it’s about balancing risks and benefits.

Today’s digital dental X-rays use a very low dose of radiation—often less than what your child would absorb from a day in the sun. That said, we still approach each case individually.

We look at the child’s age, their ability to stay still, their health history, and the parents’ preferences.

By age 6, most kids can comfortably sit for an intraoral X-ray (the kind that can detect hidden cavities). Around that age, we also recommend a panoramic X-ray to check how the adult teeth are developing, if any are missing, or if there are underlying bone issues.

Because of my own experience as a mom, I never pressure parents. I’ll always respect your decision. But I also want you to know this:

Without an X-ray, I can’t confidently look you in the eye and tell you your child is cavity-free.

If sharing my story helps even one mom avoid the heartbreak I felt that day, then it’s worth telling—again and again.

True wellness starts in your mouth.
Dr. Norma Cortez
Your Biological & Airway Dentist