Every single parent wants the best for their children, including having good dental health. Just like promoting good overall hygiene, you must be promoting good oral health habits. However, many parents don’t know some of the most common dental issues that occur with kids and how to prevent them.
If you are not sure, here are some of the most common dental problems to look out for.
Tooth Decay
Let’s be honest!
If you do not supervise your children, they do not bruise their teeth or not nurse them properly. When you combine that with sugar-heavy diets, one of the most common outcomes for that is tooth decay and cavities. The way to prevent or lessen the chance of your child dealing with cavities is by supervising them while bringing her teeth. If they do end up developing cavities make sure that you take care of them by taking them to the dentist to get a tooth filling.
Tooth Sensitivity
Another common dental issue with kids is tooth sensitivity. Even though it is not that big of a deal, it can be distracting and uncomfortable for kids. The best thing that you can do for them is to take them to their checkups regularly. This way, you will be able to catch and fix the issue before becoming something more serious.
Orthodontic Problems
We all know that having perfectly straight teeth is very rare, so another very common dental problem is an orthodontic problem. Lucky orthodontic problems are fairly easy to fix, so your child has a perfect smile. In most cases, orthodontist issues are mainly because of genetics. The most common ounces are underbites, overbites, open bites, and spacing problems.
Most professionals, such as at Church St Dental recommend that the best time to have your child’s first orthodontic appointment is around seven or eight years old. An orthodontist will check for any potential issues with their teeth and figure out how to fix them.
Pediatric Gingivitis and Gum Disease
Many parents don’t realize that kids can also suffer from gingivitis and gum diseases. They will occur in children just like in adults, there is no difference. For those who don’t know, gingivitis is a precursor for gum disease. It is recognized by blood when brushing or flossing teeth. You can also see swelling and gum recession as well as pain. In most cases, your child will be able to avoid it simply by bruising their teeth correctly as well as flossing regularly.
Excessive Thumb Sucking
Many infants and older kids resort to thumb sucking when they feel anxious or uncomfortable. Even though it is a normal coping mechanism, it can ruin their teeth if it becomes a bad habit. Once they are past the toddler stage, if they continue with those habits, it can affect their teeth development. Using a pacifier or sucking their thumb will cause an open bite, which means that the front teeth won’t come together to form a closed bite. That will leave a significant gap when their mouth is closed. It will cause them to struggle with chewing or even affect their speech. So make sure that you are paying attention to their habits.
Tongue Thrusting
A lot of parents don’t realize that tongue thrusting will cause some dental issues. If you notice that your child is swallowing their food or drinks by thrusting the tip of the tongue against the lips ensure that you are getting it checked out. It can cause pressure on their teeth, which will result in an overbite or misaligned teeth.
Early Tooth Loss
Even though we know that kids lose their teeth rapidly if you notice that they are losing their teeth a little too early, you need to have it checked out. When they lose their teeth too easily, it can cause issues with the development and alignment of the adult teeth. An early loss can also mean that they have an injury or issues with their jaw.
Injury-Related Accidents
Kids are full of energy, and a lot of times being physically active will lead to injuries. Anything loosened, chipped, broken, or knocked out is very common when it comes to kids, especially if they play a rough sport. As they are kids and most of their teeth are baby teeth it is not a big concern.
At the end of the day, the best thing that you can do for your children and keep their teeth in great shape is by being a good role model yourself. Another thing that you as a parent should do is ensure that you are getting them to their annual appointments to teach them all about the importance of good dental habits.
Author bio:
Alison Pearson is an interior design student. She is a writer and designer, and her ultimate passion is art and architecture. She is also a bibliophile and her favorite book is “The Sound and the Fury” by William Faulkner. Follow her on Twitter.