The Top 10: Children's Common Dental Problems & Preventions
Do you remember your mother telling you to brush your teeth before you go to bed when you were a kid? Or when she used to say –Don't eat a lot of candies, or cavities may build a nest in your teeth? Yes, she was absolutely right!
Childhood is the best time of life when we make memories with our friends and just worry about making more fun. It’s a time filled with adventures, playing games, exploration, and growth. On the other hand, those years of playfulness are also an invitation to permanent dental problems.
The vast majority of the problems that children have with their teeth are the same as those that affect adults. That's something a lot of us fail to recognize: untreated dental problems can lead to misaligned and weak teeth in children as they grow.
Moreover, pediatric dental complications can lead to much greater problems like speech advancement, infections, social and mental development, and in rare cases it can even lead to death.
It will be more effective to prevent common pediatric dental problems when you and your child have an understanding of the causes of these problems. We have listed the 10 most common children's dental problems with their preventive measures.
Problem #01: Tooth Decay
Tooth decay or cavity is one of the most common chronic health problems affecting children worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) says dental caries affect children to a greater extent than adults.
It is when certain types of bacterias live and thrive in the mouth causing irreversible damage. The built-up bacteria or plaque yields acids when exposed to sugary foods or candies and furthermore, it eats away the protective layer of tooth (enamel) resulting cavities.
#01: Prevention
We all know, children’s favorite foods are cookies, candy, fruit juice, pasta, and ice cream that are rich in carbohydrates. These carbohydrate-rich foods bring unfavorable conditions on teeth.
However, the good news is that this condition is preventable. Make your child brush at least twice a day with proper brushing technique and using fluoride toothpaste.
Problem #02: Sensitive Teeth
This is another common dental problem almost all children are coming up against. If your child is confronting any discomfort or irritation while ingesting cold or hot foods, they may have sensitivity problems.
Sensitive teeth aren't always a bad sign of some serious dental complications, but they are surely an indication of undiagnosed tooth decay or cavity.
#02: Prevention
To find the underlying cause, you need to examine your little one’s mouth and watch for any physical injury or redness, or swelling. Give your child a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid scraping off the enamel.
An effective preventative measure would be visiting a dental clinic and having the sealant applied to the teeth.
Problem #03: Bad Breath
Bad breath (also called halitosis) can affect anyone despite the prevailing circumstances of age. A chronic bad breath in infants is an observed consequence of frequently consuming stinky foods.
Children–as they eat–produce hydrogen sulfide from the residual food and carry bacteria that live in their mouth producing bad breath.
#03: Prevention
The foremost way to prevent as well as treat bad breath is by adapting appropriate dental hygiene. In addition to it, using antibacterial mouthwash and brushing teeth frequently after eating can be useful.
Problem #04: Baby Tooth Loss
The official first tooth loss is an exciting sign for many infants– the ‘milk teeth’ will soon be replaced with a ‘grown-up' one. However, natural tooth loss is a painless stage of development, but if a tooth is being lost prematurely, or if it refuses to fall out naturally causing pain then there are chances of developing the permanent or new tooth being poorly misaligned.
#04: Prevention
Consult a certified dentist if your child is experiencing irritation of teeth or if your child loses the tooth before the age of five or six. Dentists will definitely set the misaligned teeth arrangement in a queue.
Problem #05: Gum Disease or Pediatric Gingivitis
Probably you might have heard of inflamed or swollen gums as a dental illness of adults, right? Often we tend to discount our children’s oral health– ultimately, those are their milk teeth at the end of the day.
This is where most parents mistake and stake their kid’s oral health. However, gum diseases are quite common in pediatric dental patients where the child faces the pain of slight bleeding, swollen and red gums.
#05: Prevention
In most cases, pediatric gingivitis can be avoided by maintaining a habit of daily brushing and flossing. Brush your kids' teeth twice daily and make sure they clean their teeth properly.
CONCLUSION: The wide majority of problems in children can take the edge off with routined dental care (proper brushing and flossing). As a parent, it is your responsibility to take care of your child’s smile and oral health.
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