How to Prevent Common Dental Problems in Children?

How to Prevent Common Dental Problems in Children?
6 min read

Everyone, particularly children, needs to have good dental health. Oral hygiene must be practiced when the baby's teeth emerge to avoid dental problems. Caring for oral health early on aids in the appropriate growth and protection of the children’s gums and teeth. If your child frequently experiences dental issues, there are a number of preventative precautions that may be implemented, and visiting pediatric dentistry near you can solve them.

Common Dental Problems In Children:

1. Tooth Decay or Dental Caries

Many kids struggle to clean their teeth and floss without adult assistance. Additionally, youngsters have a diet that is often higher in sugar, which causes them more vulnerable to tooth decay. Plaque accumulation on the surface of the teeth leads to the development of cavities. The plaque's acid gradually begins to eat away at the teeth's enamel, which finally results in tooth decay.

In order to remove food particles, bacteria, and plaque from their teeth each day, parents must help their kids brush and floss properly. The conventional treatment for a cavity is to fill the tooth.

2. Tooth Sensitivity

Sensitive teeth can cause your child to lose concentration and follow routines since they are painful, distracting, and uncomfortable. Children's dental sensitivity can have a variety of causes, therefore regular exams are crucial to pinpoint the issue. Among the causes of children's dental sensitivity are:

  • Orthodontic care
  • Incomplete or damaged filling
  • Tooth gnashing
  • Acid erosion and enamel erosion
  • Cavities

Different therapies are available to lessen the discomfort and anguish brought on by sensitive teeth. Take your child to the dentist near you right away if the sensitivity is brought on by a tooth problem to prevent it from getting worse.                    

3. Dental Injuries

Emergencies with your oral health can happen anywhere, anytime. Children may suffer lip injuries while playing with their siblings, falling off bicycles, or engaging in physical activity. Numerous situations might result in a dental emergency.

Such mishaps may result in teeth that are chipped, broken, or cracked. In extreme circumstances, it might also lead to irreversible tooth loss. It is imperative to recover the tooth and bring your child to the dentist in the event of permanent tooth loss. Keep the tooth submerged in milk, saline solution, or clean water at all times. With a retainer to aid in reattachment, the dentist could change the tooth. Even though these situations are frequently inevitable, you must take specific precautions, such as ensuring that your kid wears a mouthguard while participating in sports.

4. Pediatric Gum Disease

Many individuals think gum disease mainly affects adults. Sadly, that isn't the case. In young adults, gingivitis and gum disease are fairly common. If gingivitis is left untreated, gum disease will develop over time. Swollen and red gums, as well as mild bleeding while brushing or flossing, are signs.

With poor dental hygiene, gum disease is more known and aggressive. It causes oral pain, gum recession, and edema. Gingivitis and gum disease are frequently preventable with daily brushing and flossing. However, in rare circumstances, your child's teeth may be too close together or crooked, making it difficult to adequately clean the teeth and increasing the risk of gum disease, or gingivitis.

5. Orthodontic Problems

Children's teeth are often not straight without dental care. Several orthodontic procedures can guarantee that your child has beautifully straight teeth and a radiant smile. Genetics, as well as how the child's jaw's size and shape affect the development of the teeth, are frequently to blame for orthodontic problems.

Children frequently have spacing issues, an open bite, an underbite, or an overbite. It is best to wait until your child is seven or eight years old to bring them to their first orthodontic appointment. More than just a crooked smile can result from these problems. Effective misalignments and overcrowding of the child’s teeth can cause fractured teeth, jaw disorders, and other concerns.

6. Extreme Thumb Sucking

Many kids, especially babies and toddlers, use pacifiers and thumb-sucking to calm their anxiety. If your kids keep up this habit, it won't be a problem until they're older, but it will affect how their teeth develop. Thumb sucking should be discouraged, and pacifiers should never be used on children.

Thumb sucking and persistent pacifier use are two common causes of an open bite. When the upper teeth are misaligned with the lower teeth, it creates an open bite, which results in a gap even when the person closes their mouth. The children's open bite makes it difficult for them to chew and bite, and it might also impact their speech.

7. Dental Phobia

Let's face it, even grownups have anxiety or trepidation before seeing the dentist. Therefore, it shouldn't be surprised if kids are afraid of going to the dentist. It can be difficult for parents to take their kids to routine dental checkups and cleanings due to dental anxiety. It often persists into adulthood, which may have a variety of detrimental effects on their general health and dental hygiene.

To support your kid's face dental anxiety, aim to make it a pleasant, fun, and calm experience. Choose a pediatric or family dentist near you who has experience with nervous kids and can make them feel at ease. It also reinforces the idea that there is nothing to be afraid of by teaching your child the importance of dental care and making sure they follow a regular dental regimen.

Finding pediatric dentistry in SE Calgary

The best way to encourage good dental habits for life is to set a good example by brushing and flossing with your child and making sure they don't skip their dental appointments. By working with your children and cooperating with your pediatric dentist, your kids can avoid many of these common dental problems during childhood. Even when you are busy working, you can reach out to a dentist open on weekends.

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