Spanish · B1 · Family moment
Advice after a dental check-up in Spanish
This guide helps parents use the Spanish conditional to offer gentle dental advice and recommendations to their children, focusing on the distinction between suggestions ('should') and requirements ('must').
What you'll learn
- Master the conditional form of the verb 'deber' to express 'should'.
- Learn vocabulary related to dental health and new adult teeth.
- Practice phrasing suggestions as helpful choices rather than strict commands.
Spanish phrases for advice after a dental check-up
¿Debería dejar este diente flojo tranquilo?
Should I leave this loose tooth alone?
'Flojo' means loose; 'dejar tranquilo' is a natural way to say 'leave alone'.
Deberías dejar que se caiga solo.
You should let it fall out by itself.
Uses 'deberías' (you should) followed by the subjunctive 'se caiga'.
Deberíamos preguntarle al dentista sobre tu diente nuevo.
We should ask the dentist about your new tooth.
'Preguntarle' includes the indirect object pronoun 'le' referring to the dentist.
Deberías usar un cepillo con cerdas más suaves.
You should use a brush with softer bristles.
'Cerdas' is the specific word for toothbrush bristles.
¿Deberíamos pedir otra cita para el próximo mes?
Should we make another appointment for next month?
'Pedir cita' is the common expression for making an appointment.
Deberías decirme si te molesta al morder.
You should tell me if biting feels uncomfortable.
'Molestar' is used here to mean 'to cause discomfort' or 'to bother'.
Deberíamos guardar los consejos del dentista en un lugar seguro.
We should keep the dentist's advice somewhere safe.
'Consejos' (plural) is often used when referring to general medical advice.
Debería acordarme de traer mi protector bucal.
I should remember to bring my mouthguard.
'Acordarse de' is a reflexive verb meaning 'to remember'.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
diente flojo
loose tooth
Literally 'limp' or 'slack' tooth.
cerdas
bristles
Used specifically for brushes (hair or teeth).
morder
to bite
An o->ue stem-changing verb.
protector bucal
mouthguard
Commonly used in sports and dental contexts.
Using 'Debería' for Advice
To translate 'should', Spanish uses the conditional form of the verb 'deber'. Unlike 'tener que' (to have to) or the present 'debo' (I must), the conditional softens the tone, making it perfect for recommendations and suggestions.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I should | Yo debería | Yo debería cepillarme más. |
| You (informal) should | Tú deberías | Deberías comer menos dulces. |
| We should | Nosotros deberíamos | Deberíamos ir a la clínica. |
| You all should | Vosotros deberíais / Ustedes deberían | Deberían escuchar al médico. |
More examples
El dentista dice que deberías usar hilo dental.
The dentist says you should use dental floss.
A common way to pass along professional advice.
No deberías tocarte la encía con los dedos sucios.
You shouldn't touch your gums with dirty fingers.
'Encía' means gum (singular/plural context).