There are several issues that affect children’s oral health that is mostly seen by a pediatric dentist on a regular basis. Even though baby teeth are eventually replaced by permanent teeth, maintaining the health of baby teeth is critical to a child’s general health and well-being. Here are five typical oral health issues in children.
Tooth Decay
Without supervision, most young children are incapable of clean
brushing and flossing their teeth. Cavities can become a serious concern when combined with the fact that some children may have a sugar-heavy diet. The acid in plaque essentially eats away at the enamel, eventually eroding the tooth. Children should be supervised and assisted in brushing their teeth until they can grasp and manage a toothbrush on their own. Ensure that your children remove plaque, bacteria, and food particles from their teeth daily to help avoid early tooth decay. If a cavity does form, the standard treatment is a tooth filling, which entails drilling away the decay and filling the hole with strong composite material. Tooth decay is the most common issue Pediatric dentists face.
Sensitive Teeth
The second most common issue Pediatric dentists face is, Sensitive teeth in children can be caused by several factors, such as brushing too hard, decay, or injury to a tooth that exposes the nerve ends. Then, when your youngster consumes something hot or cold, they may feel pain. To treat sensitive teeth, we first examine your child’s mouth to determine the underlying problem. We will restore the tooth if it is damaged or decayed. Sealants can also help to strengthen poor enamel and lessen sensitivity in some cases. We may also advise children to use a soft-bristled toothbrush at home.
Dental Emergencies
It is a dental condition that can occur at any time. A dental-related injury might occur when a child is playing sports, roughhousing with siblings, or falling while riding a bike. These mishaps can cause teeth to chip, break, or crack. In more severe cases, a permanent tooth may be totally knocked out.
If your child’s permanent tooth falls out, call the dentist right away for an emergency appointment to retrieve the tooth. Put the tooth in a glass of milk, saline solution, or clean water to soak. The dentist may be able to re-insert the permanent tooth into the socket, allowing it to reconnect with the aid of a retainer.
Pediatric Gingivitis and Gum Disease
You may have assumed that gum infections were only encountered in adults. Unfortunately, this is not the case for parents. Gingivitis and gum disease can affect youngsters and are quite common in pediatric dental patients. Gingivitis is the forerunner to gum disease, and it is frequently characterized by red, swollen gums, and minor bleeding when your child brushes or flosses.
Gum disease is more aggressive in youngsters who do not practice good oral hygiene. Pain in the mouth, gum recession and swelling are all common symptoms. Gingivitis and gum disease may have been avoided in the majority of instances if more care was taken to brush and floss daily. In some cases, your child’s teeth may come in so crooked and crowded that they are unable to adequately clean them, resulting in gingivitis or gum disease.
Thumb Sucking Excessive
Thumb-sucking and pacifier use are common ways for newborns, toddlers, and small children to relieve anxiety. It does not become a dental issue until the child is older and continues with this behavior, as continuous thumb sucking can cause problems with the way a child’s teeth form. As a result, parents should not let the tendency persist past the toddler stage.
Chronic thumb sucking and pacifier use are the most common causes of an open bite. An open bite occurs when the upper front teeth do not meet the lower front teeth, resulting in a gap even when the mouth is closed. This might make it difficult for your child to bite and chew, and it can even interfere with their speech.
If you’re worried that your child could be developing a dental problem, we may be able to help and dedicated to helping you and your child develop healthier smiles.