As a parent of a young child, it is your responsibility to see that your child is cared for and adequately protected. That includes ensuring that he or she has good oral hygiene.
Unlike adults, young children fail to see the importance of proper oral hygiene. If the parents are not monitoring their child’s oral hygiene practices, this can cause some issues. Here are the most common dental complaints that children suffer from.
Dental Issues
1. Tooth Decay
Very often, the cause of tooth decay is a diet that is high in sugar, which feeds the oral bacteria that attacks the tooth enamel. According to statistics, around 20% of children aged 5-11 have at least one tooth that is decaying, and this means having fillings, yet with a low-sugar diet and good oral hygiene practices, tooth decay can be avoided.
2. Halitosis
Commonly known as bad breath, this can affect people of all ages, including children, and with colonies of bacteria feeding from plaque, this produces sulphur dioxide that has an unpleasant odour. If you find a highly recommended dentist or in your local area, you can make an appointment for your child to get to the root of the bad breath issue, which could be caused by poor oral hygiene, or could even be an indication for a disease.
3. Crooked Teeth
It is not uncommon for a child to have teeth that are not straight and with wire braces or Invisalign, the teeth are gently coerced to change growth direction slightly. The treatment could take up to 2 years, or as little as 4-5 months, depending on the severity of the misalignment. Invisalign is the preferred treatment, as it is invisible when worn and can be removed when eating. If you’d like to know the different options in fixing your kid’s teeth misalignment, you can check out this trustworthy dentist who does crowns, veneers, and Invisalign.
4. Tooth Sensitivity
This condition can affect people of all ages, and children suffer from sensitive teeth around areas of tooth decay, or perhaps a newly-erupted tooth coming through the gums. Wearing braces can sometimes cause sensitive teeth, and if your child is complaining of sensitive teeth, make an appointment to see the family dentist, who can discover the root cause.
5. Emergency Situations
Kids will be kids and are often involved in minor scrapes and accidents, which might result in a chipped or broken tooth, and that can be very painful. If your son or daughter plays a contact sport, you should always provide a mouthguard, and if there are ever any oral issues, make an appointment to have your child examined by the family dentist. For example, your son lost a tooth playing football, take the tooth with you when you visit the dentist, as the specialist might be able to re-seat the tooth. If possible, put the tooth in a small container of milk or water, as this increases the chance of a re-seat.
Children’s teeth are constantly developing, and frequent oral examinations are advised. Even if there aren’t any issues, the check-up might reveal the beginning of tooth misalignment, and the dentist can take the necessary action.
Krishan Jangir