3 Common Oral Health Problems in Children

According to a Face Value Dental survey, about 24% of children between the ages of six and fourteen have one form of tooth decay or the other. This means a lot more children are likely to encounter oral challenges with their permanent teeth.

Thee common oral health problems in children

Image Credit

As kids usually begin to lose their milk teeth at age six to make way for adult ones, they’re also predisposed to oral health problems in their formative years. What are the common dental issues? Learn about them here.

• Tooth decay

Statistics from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) reveals that about 25% of minors aged five to eleven years in the US deal with tooth decay. Additionally, 13% of adolescents and teenagers suffer the same problem. The CDC maintains that this condition’s severity may depend on how long it has persisted.

Tooth decay occurs due to certain bacterial activity in the oral cavity. In its early stages, a sticky yellowish substance covers the teeth or affected tooth, called plaque. You can deal with this in the early stages with regular brushing of the teeth. However, if left to linger for a long time, plaque hardens to become tartar. Unfortunately, you can’t remove this by only brushing your teeth, but rather a visit to the dentist office for professional help.

Foods that contribute to plaque formation and create a fertile ground for bacteria-causing tooth-decay include carbohydrate-rich ones and meals with high sugar content. This can develop even quicker if your kids don’t brush their teeth or floss regularly. Allowing these acids to sit too long eats away at the enamel (outer hard covering of the teeth) and causes gradual decay.

• Sensitive teeth

Both adults and kids experience sensitive teeth problems. Are you wondering how you can easily detect this? If your child complains of discomfort or irritation when consuming hot or cold foods, that’s a sure sign. Sensitive teeth are not much of a worry because you can manage them with specialized toothpaste. However, its presence could signify a more problematic underlying oral condition that needs immediate attention.

A child’s enamel tends to be thinner than an adult’s. Therefore, when this hard outer covering begins to erode, cracks may develop and expose sensitive nerve endings, explaining how sensitive teeth occur in kids. Sometimes, this condition results from undiagnosed cavities, which is something a professional must handle. Therefore, as a parent, seek out a certified dentist at the first complaint of tooth sensitivity.

• Gingivitis

The plaque that attacks teeth is also responsible for gum irritation and inflammation. Gingivitis is described as the early signs of chronic gum disease, and 22% of kids in the US between ages five and fourteen have this issue. Besides seeking dental care, the simple trick to eliminating gingivitis in your child’s mouth is to help them adopt strict oral hygiene routines. When this goes untreated, it leads to periodontitis, a more severe oral condition that can cause permanent tooth loss.

Good dental care is important for all persons and is even more essential for children as they’re especially prone to oral health issues. It may help if you guide your children in taking care of their teeth, so it sticks in their minds right into adulthood. Remember to seek immediate assistance from the dentist if you notice any of the above-mentioned conditions in your child.