Having happy healthy teeth for our children is just as important as our own teeth health. Like adults, children can develop issues including tooth decay, abscesses, and gum disease. Other kid’s teeth problems include cleft palate, cleft lip, and knocking teeth out along with other trauma-related issues. A child’s teeth are used daily for eating, smiling and speech development, when there are issues hindering these functions, a child can be greatly impacted.
Common Child’s Teeth Problems
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay, or childhood caries, can occur from bacteria on the teeth feeding of sugars and putting acids on the teeth. These acids will result in cavities when left untreated can result in pain, difficulties eating, and abscesses. Through a good tooth-friendly diet and teeth cleaning routine, you can help with the prevention of these issues for your child. In some more advanced cases of tooth decay, extractions can be required to assist with treating an infection or stopping pain for your child. In these instances, it can be beneficial to seek space maintenance options from an orthodontist when baby teeth are lost prematurely.
Gum Disease
Dental problems can also extend to gums around our child’s teeth. Gingivitis is a type that can be experienced by children as are the result of plaque remaining on their teeth. Their gums may become swollen, red, and bleed while being cleaned. While not common in a child’s mouth, occasionally a more severe form of gum disease can occur called periodontitis. This impacts the gums as well as supporting structures around the teeth. Through routine brushing and flossing daily as well as professional cleans at your dental clinic, these conditions can be identified and preventative treatment for your child’s teeth can be planned.
Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip
These dental problems can occur with or without other genetic conditions and syndromes. It is a condition that affects a child’s airways, feeding, speech or hearing. It can appear as a spacing formed in the roof of the mouth or lip and can extend up to the nose in more advanced cases. These conditions are often picked up in young babies. Surgeries can be required as well as orthodontic work as teeth positioning can be affected.
Dental Injury or Trauma
Trauma to both baby teeth and adult teeth can be a common occurrence while practicing sport or playing. Teeth can get bumped, cracked, broken, or knocked out. The gums may also become damaged, bleeding, inflamed, cut, or bruised. For some teeth that are more susceptible to trauma to protruding, orthodontic treatment can assist your child’s teeth.
Using custom-made mouthguards during training and playing of sports can decrease a child’s risk of concussion, absorb, and spread some of the impacts. Seeing a dental practitioner after a traumatic event will assist in determining if further treatment is required.
What to Do If a Child’s Tooth Is Knocked Out?
This condition is also known as avulsion, when the entire tooth, including the root, is knocked out of the gums, and supporting structure. There are some steps you can follow to ensure the best outcome for your child’s teeth.
- Hold to the tooth by the crown or top of the tooth. if dirty rinse with milk, (or sterile saline if available) for a short time, do not wipe or scrub the tooth.
- Identify if it is an adult or baby tooth. Baby teeth should not be put back into the area it avulsed from instead placed in milk or saliva and taken to a dental clinic as soon as possible.
- If it is an adult permanent tooth place it back into the mouth where it has avulsed from making, sure the tooth is facing the right way around. Bite down on some tissues or a small soft piece of cloth to assist with positioning the tooth.
- If unable to place a tooth into the mouth, store it in milk or saliva.
- See a dental clinic as soon as possible, the sooner treatment is completed the better the chance for the tooth to be saved
With routine dental visits, kids’ teeth problems can be prevented and managed. Wearing mouthguards while playing sports and getting trauma checked by your dental practitioner are further ways you reduce issues. Giving children assistance with brushing there correctly will assist with the removal of harmful teeth decay-causing bacteria from your child’s teeth and mouth.
Fun videos and tooth brushing songs can be great ways to assist with motivating children to brush for 2 minutes. 6 monthly check-ups are recommended and introducing the dental clinic at a young age is an excellent way to create a positive setting.
