Dental problems usually begin in childhood. Not having created good hygiene habits, growing up with adults who do not take care of their teeth, or seeing tooth decay as something normal causes, in our children, the false certainty that dental problems are not something to worry about.
Of course, children’s dental problems do not necessarily end with cavities. Interestingly, good hygiene and habit formation from early childhood can prevent most of these problems.
In this article, find out the most common dental problems children suffer, as well as how to prevent them and treat them.
7 most common dental issues in children
There are many common dental issues in children. Here we tell you about the seven most common ones:
1. Dental cavities
The number one and most prevalent problem in children is tooth decay, also called cavities. Cavities are damaged areas in the teeth caused by the breakdown of the enamel and hard tissue of the tooth. Cavities happen when the mouth is exposed to acids produced by bacteria. These bacteria feed mainly on sugars and simple carbohydrates.
You can prevent cavities and the breakdown of children’s teeth. Three excellent ways to prevent tooth decay are the following:
- Improve dental hygiene: Creating habits of brushing teeth after main meals and supervising the correct brushing of teeth in your children improves their dental hygiene.
- Improve diet: Avoid giving kids too many sweets or highly processed foods. You can also help by adding foods with high nutritional value to their diet.
- Consult with your dentist regularly: Discovering cavities at an early stage is useful to avoid them becoming bigger.
Preventing cavities in children prevents them from having more serious problems. Some of the issues we avoid include pain, tooth loss, and painful visits to the dentist. Generally, going to the dentist for a cleaning or checkup is better than going to the dentist to cure large, painful cavities.
If your children have cavities, it is crucial to cure them to prevent them from growing and causing more damage.
2. Gum disease
Did you know not only adults could have gum disease? Gingivitis in children is quite common. It is characterized as a disease of the gums. In this disease, the plaque accumulates between the gum and the tooth, thus irritating the gum.
To discover if your child has gingivitis, you can observe if their gums have any of these signs:
- Constant pain in the gums (or sensitivity to temperatures when eating).
- Inflammation or swelling of the gums.
- Bleeding of the gums, especially when flossing or brushing teeth.
Gingivitis is the precursor to gum disease. In most cases, it is prevented by proper tooth and gum hygiene, including proper flossing. If this disease is not treated, children’s teeth may fall out, become weaker, or cause bone loss. You can prevent the disease through dietary changes and improved brushing techniques.
Gum disease is a treatable disease. As a parent, you can look for the help of a good dentist or periodontist.
3. Orthodontic problems
Orthodontic problems are a “growing trend” in children. Also called malocclusions, orthodontic problems can cause some aesthetic problems or even functional problems, such as:
- Overbite: Overbite means that the front teeth protrude more than the back teeth.
- Underbite: The lower teeth protrude from the upper teeth in an underbite. This could be caused by genetics or because of prolonged thumb-sucking.
- Open bite: When the mouth is closed, it is normal for all teeth to touch to facilitate chewing. In an open bite, teeth don’t touch.
- Spacing problems: Sometimes, there is too little or too much space between the teeth, causing problems with chewing or with the aesthetics and self-esteem of children.
- Crowding: Crowding happens when there is no space for the teeth, causing them to grow too close together and become crooked.
It is crucial to detect these problems early in order to correct them. Your orthodontist will determine if you need braces, expanders, headgear, or even jaw surgery—in severe cases. Unfortunately, orthodontics is not only an aesthetic problem but can also cause other problems in the long run, such as cracked teeth, difficulty brushing teeth, or jaw problems.
We recommend that you and your kid visit an orthodontist around the age of seven or eight when many permanent teeth have erupted.
4. Traumas
Another common problem in children is dental trauma. Dental trauma refers to injuries that affect the teeth, gums, jawbone, or mouth. Injuries can lead to chipped or knocked-out teeth. A variety of reasons can cause them:
- Accidents
- Falls
- Sport injuries
- Biting on hard objects
Whatever the case, if the injury is severe, the child requires immediate dental attention. To prevent some of these problems, children can wear mouthguards when playing some sports.
5. Tooth Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity may be caused by some of the other problems mentioned above. It refers to the discomfort and pain that children feel when drinking hot or cold foods and beverages. Even air currents entering the mouth can cause pain.
Some of the problems that can cause children’s teeth to feel sensitive include the following:
- Cavities
- New permanent teeth
- Bruxism or teeth-grinding
- Orthodontic treatment
- Gum disease
- A cracked or missing filling
It is important to detect and treat the cause with a pediatric dental specialist. If your child complains of tooth pain or sensitivity, the best thing to do is to take them to the dentist for a check-up.
6. Grinding
Grinding or bruxism is a habit that causes children to clench or grind their teeth. It is quite common in infants and toddlers, but children stop when their teeth develop.
If your child continues to grind his teeth after toddlerhood, there is a high risk that it will wear down the enamel on its teeth. This can lead to cavities and other dental problems. Your dental professional will determine whether mouthguards are necessary to prevent tooth wear. However, it is important to consult a team of professionals to understand and stop the cause of tooth grinding.
7. Thumb sucking
Children often use thumb sucking as a self-soothing mechanism. By doing so for prolonged periods, they can damage their teeth. This problem can usually lead to several issues, such as an open bite, meaning the upper and lower teeth do not touch.
Thumb sucking can also cause problems with proper chewing and even affect speech. If your child is still sucking its thumb after 3-4 years of age, it is best to look for ways to prevent it with the help of your pediatrician, dental professional, and other healthcare professionals.
Prevention is key: early habits for lifelong health
The bottom line is that by brushing your child’s teeth, staying informed about common problems, and regular visits to the dentist, you can prevent or correct most dental problems early.
Remember that it is up to you to create good habits in the children around you from a young age. Your care will be their care.
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