Most Common Kids’ Dental Problems
Many parents can omit the importance of children’s oral health because of the false notion that dental issues for children only occur after the age 10. Some believe that since their teeth aren’t durable from the beginning, they’ll lose them sooner or later.
But, in reality, dental-related problems are equally frequent among children and youngsters of all ages, from getting broken teeth while playing in the gym to bad brushing habits that lead to tooth decay. If the dental issues remain untreated, they can result in severe infections and other problems as your child grows.
Good oral hygiene practices need to be taught for your children’s teeth health as early as the first set of teeth begins to grow. Understanding the most common pediatric dental issues is crucial for parents to stop the occurrence of dental problems among children. Look over a few of the most frequent children’s dental issues you should be aware of, and watch out for the signs in your children regardless of age.
Cavities and tooth decay
Amongst the most frequent dental issues that kids face is the overgrowth of sticky, black plaque on the surface of the teeth. Plaque is a source of strong acids that attack the enamel of teeth, ultimately leading to tooth decay.
One of the main reasons for plaque accumulation is the lack of supervision for flossing and brushing. Children aren’t very adept at brushing their teeth with parental supervision. In addition, children tend to consume sugar-rich diets, which can cause cavities in the teeth if they’re not cleaned correctly. Regular visits to the pediatric dentist to check up their dental health are essential to detect decay early and prevent the condition from worsening.
Gum Disease
Also known as Gingivitis, It is an early-stage gum disease seen in adults more often, but it can affect children if the proper oral hygiene practices aren’t followed. It causes inflammation of the gum tissue as a result of plaque accumulation, which leads to swelling gums, bleeding and red gums and bad breath, as well as tooth loss in severe instances.
A daily and regular brushing routine and regular visits to the dentist are mandatory to ensure healthy gums.
Tooth Sensitivity
Teeth loss is one of the most frequent dental problems for children. It mainly occurs because of decay or injury. While the loss of milk teeth is an element of the normal development course, there may be occasions that it happens sooner than usual. Premature tooth loss can result in significant damage to your child’s permanent teeth, leading to the development of poorly-developed or misaligned teeth.
Sensitive Teeth
There’s nothing more unpleasant than having sensitive teeth. This can have a significant impact on your kid’s dental health. The most common cause of tooth sensitivity is in children because of various factors like cracked fillings, teeth grinding, the wear off of enamel, nerve endings that are exposed and the development of dental cavities, among others.
Because of this, whenever your child eats or drinks something cold or hot, this causes extreme irritation and discomfort to the teeth.
Misaligned Teeth
The medical term for it is malocclusion. Tooth misalignment is a frequent dental issue for children, which can cause serious health problems.
Misaligned teeth tend to develop sideways or crooked. The most frequent causes include early loss of an infant’s tooth, gum disease, mouth tumors not filled with dental fillings, and excessive stress on gums and teeth.
This needs immediate orthodontic treatment and treatment to correct misaligned or crooked teeth.
Bad breath
Another issue that could affect your children’s dental health is bad breath. This can also be known as halitosis.
It is a problem that can strike everyone at any time and tends to leave a foul, bitter taste in your mouth. The most straightforward explanation for lousy breath would be the type of food you consume.
The mouth’s leftover foods can be a breeding ground for bacteria, which feed on food and create hydrogen sulfide. This is what causes foul odors in the mouth. A healthy mouth and good hygiene is the most effective way to stop halitosis from occurring and make your breath smell clean and fresh. If your child is suffering from persistent smelly breaths, this may be a sign of a more severe issue with the gums or teeth.
Canker Sores
They are tiny ulcers or sores that form on the gums, tongue or within the mouth. They usually have a white-grayish center with red borders.
Sores from cankers develop due to numerous factors, including allergies, infection, or nutritional deficiency. They can also form due to minor traumas in the mouth or caused by accidental tooth bites or aggressive brushing.
The sores can cause drinking and eating to be hard for your kid. That is why it’s essential to encourage the proper habits of brushing your child right from the beginning.
Dental Injury
Considering how active and enthusiastic youngsters are, many risk having dental emergencies or injuries when playing or engaging in other activities. It can happen at any time, like during cycling, playing sports and fighting among siblings, to mention just a few.
The result of these accidents could be broken teeth, chipped teeth or even the loss of a tooth permanently. Although parents aren’t able to stop these scenarios from happening, you can safeguard your child’s dental health during these actions with an individual mouthguard.
The Key Takeaway
There are a variety of types of dental problems for kids. Each is different regarding severity, extremeness, and impact on dental health.
In any case, it is crucial to encourage healthy dental habits like regular brushing and flossing, as well as limiting the consumption of sugary food and drinks to avoid developing dental problems for children.
