Parents always want the best for their children especially when it comes to their health. When talking about dental health, parents need to teach their kids basic dental hygiene right from an early age. This includes brushing their teeth twice a day, limiting the intake of foods that can damage their teeth, among others. You also need to take your kids to the dentist at least twice a year. These oral hygiene habits will be beneficial for your kids when they reach adulthood. In this article, we will learn about the most common dental problems in children.
Common Dental Problems in Children
1. Cavities
One of the most common dental problems that children go through is cavities. These are caused by the plaque that accumulates on the surface of the teeth. Foods that are rich in carbohydrates are one of the main culprits that cause plaque. Other causes of plaque consist of unhealthy foods such as candies, chocolates, and sugary sodas. To prevent cavities, parents need to ensure that their kids are brushing their teeth thoroughly each day. A regular dental visit can also help prevent cavities. Plus, in case your child does develop cavities, it can be treated with a tooth filling.
2. Tooth Decay
Cavities if not treated, can lead to tooth decay. Decay is caused by the bacteria that feed on sugar that is vastly available in chips and sugary foods. These bacteria attack the tooth enamel, leaving behind brown or black spots. The saliva does help in the reparation process, but if the damage is extensive, it could lead to bigger dental issues which may need a root canal treatment.
3. Tooth Sensitivity
If your child gets an irritating sensation while consuming hot or cold food items, they may be experiencing tooth sensitivity. Having sensitive teeth can be distracting for your kid and would often cause them to lose focus. There are a lot of treatments available that could be used to reduce pain. Giving your kid a brush with soft bristles may help them overcome some discomfort while brushing. But if the main cause of it is cavities, then you need to see a dentist before the pain starts to get worse.
4. Gum diseases
Poor dental and oral hygiene often lead to gum diseases or gingivitis. The most common symptoms are red and swollen gums, bad breath, and a bad taste left in the mouth. When the plaque starts depositing under your tooth, it automatically starts affecting your gums. This can be easily avoided by following basic dental hygiene and proper brushing. Regular Periodontal exams can also help identify gum disease in its early stages.
5. Teeth Grinding
If your child is sleep grinding or clenching his teeth too hard, then you need to get it treated. Teeth grinding or Bruxism is a serious problem that a child may develop when their top teeth are not aligned with the bottom. It is also an indication that they may be suffering from stress.
6. Dental Emergencies
Accidental tooth damage, broken teeth, or an abscessed tooth are some of the dental emergencies that require immediate dental care. Delays in treating dental emergencies can often lead to tooth loss. Thus, to prevent this, ensure that you visit the dentist as soon as possible.
7. Bad Breath
Halitosis or bad breath can affect adults as well as children. Even though bad breath is often linked to eating certain types of foods, sometimes it may be a symptom of a deeper root issue. Similar to adults, bad breath among children can be more pronounced in the morning. But, if it continues throughout the day, then you need to visit your dentist to identify the reason behind it.
8. Early Tooth Loss
Kids can lose their teeth in an accident while playing or simply due to decaying. However, losing a tooth prematurely can mess up their mouth alignment for both the milk as well as the permanent teeth. Also, their new teeth would end up growing crooked or sideways.
9. Tooth Erosion
Caused by food acid attacking the tooth enamel, tooth erosion can lead to the loss of tooth structure. Some of the symptoms that your child might be experiencing are tooth sensitivity or severe problems such as cracking. Tooth erosion is also a common dental problem in children. However, it can be easily prevented with the right brushing techniques.
10. Dental Anxiety
Be it a kid or an adult everyone is scared of a dental visit. But, for some children, this could be more severe leading to dental anxiety. It could make them petrified of going to the dentist. Here, the best way to make them feel relaxed and the whole experience enjoyable is to choose a dentist who has the experience of dealing with kids suffering from dental anxiety.
Conclusion
All the above dental problems in children can be dealt with effectively by imparting the importance of dental health in children right from the start. Make sure to not miss their dental appointments. Also, kids learn healthy habits from their parents, so make sure to be a good role model that they can look up to. Plus, remember that optimal oral health can help improve their overall general health.
Hope all this information came in handy. If you have any inputs you would like to share, then let us know in the comments section below.
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