There are a lot of oral issues that affect children. Unfortunately, many parents don’t pay sufficient attention to the condition of their children’s teeth and gums. As a result, these issues can cause severe complications in the future. That’s why it is essential to visit a dentist from childhood. In this article, we have gathered six common dental issues in children you should know about.
1. Tooth decay
Many children can’t brush and floss their teeth without help. Additionally, some children eat a sugar diet. That’s why they can easily develop tooth decay. The acids produced by bacteria eat away the enamel that results in cavities. That’s why parents should help their children brush their teeth until they can cope with a toothbrush on their own. To prevent the development of tooth decay, you need to help your children remove plaque, bacteria, and food particles from their teeth every day.
2. Emergency dental issues
Emergency dental issues can occur at almost any time. Children who play sports, fight with siblings, or fall while cycling are more prone to dental emergencies. These accidents can result in chipped, broken, or cracked teeth. In more severe cases, even the permanent tooth may be knocked out. If your child’s permanent tooth falls out, you should visit the dentist immediately to bond the tooth. You need to place the tooth in a glass of milk, saliva, or clean water. The dentist can re-insert the permanent tooth into the socket, allowing it to reattach with a retainer.
3. Gum disease
There is a common misconception that gum disease is a dental issue that only occurs in adults. Unfortunately for parents, children are also prone to gum disease. Gingivitis is the initial stage of gum disease that often manifests itself as redness and swelling of the gums and slight bleeding when a child is brushing or flossing their teeth.
Gum disease can cause more severe symptoms in children who don’t maintain proper oral hygiene. But if your child’s teeth grow so crooked and crowded that they cannot clean their teeth properly, it can also lead to gum disease. Gum disease can cause toothache, gum recession, and loose teeth. In most cases, gum disease can be prevented by thorough tooth brushing and flossing.
4. Orthodontic issues
In most cases, children don’t get perfectly straight teeth. However, there are many orthodontic treatment options that can help your child or teen improve their smiles. Orthodontic issues often occur because of genetics. This means that the size and shape of the jaw affect the way your child’s teeth grow. The most common misalignment problems in children include malocclusion and spacing problems.
If you want to prevent the development of severe orthodontic issues in the future, your child should visit an orthodontist at the age of seven or eight. You should understand that orthodontic problems can mean more than just shifted teeth. Severe crowding and misalignment of your child’s teeth can lead to jaw problems, broken teeth, and problems with oral hygiene.
5. Bruxism
Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, is an involuntary habit in which a person clenches their teeth. It occurs in most infants and toddlers. Children can grind their teeth due to some jaw discomfort when their baby teeth begin to erupt. In most cases, bruxism disappears on its own after baby teeth develop. However, some children may continue to grind their teeth. This can result in tooth decay, tooth sensitivity, loose teeth, and jaw pain. If your child still grinds their teeth at night, you can ask a pediatric dentist about a custom mouth guard for kids.
6. Loss of baby teeth
For many children, the loss of baby teeth doesn’t cause any pain. However, some baby teeth don’t fall off in time or can cause pain. In this case, it is better to contact a pediatric dentist. Most loose baby teeth result from a permanent tooth erupting. But some baby teeth can become loose because of injury before it is able to fall out. Don’t delay a check-up with a pediatric dentist if your child’s tooth is loosening earlier than it should to save the tooth and ensure that the permanent teeth develop properly.