3 Pediatric Dental Issues
Posted on: 31 March 2016
There are numerous parents that tend to gloss over dental issues for their infants or small children. This is an unwise decision. There are numerous issues regarding your child's oral hygiene that should be addressed by both you and a pediatric dentist, like Robert L. Edmonstone, DDS. Throughout the course of this brief article, you will learn about just a few of the most common pediatric dental issues that can befall your child.
Gingivitis
Although this is commonplace among adults, gingivitis is an issue that is equally as problematic for children. Gingivitis occurs when plaque rests on the gum for an extended period of time. Gingivitis manifests itself due to poor oral hygiene practices in the first place. You can easily check to see if your child is suffering from gingivitis by checking their gums. If their gums are inflamed, hypersensitive, swollen, or bleeding, then these are all strong signs of gingivitis. Teaching your children how to properly and sufficiently brush and floss their teeth is the biggest way to prevent gingivitis from occurring in the first place.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay, often times referred to as caries, is a huge issue among children, despite the fact that tooth decay is an easy preventable phenomenon. Making sure that your child practices healthy eating habits is one of the best things you can do for your child's oral hygiene. Foods that are heavy with carbohydrates, like potatoes, pasta, rice, and bread can be detrimental to your child's overall teeth health. These foods can lead to the presence of tartar and plaque, which contribute to tooth decay.
Teeth Grinding
Often referred to as bruxism, teeth grinding is an issue that should be put to a stop as soon as you discover that your child is doing it. Teeth grinding can not only cause cosmetic damage to your child's teeth by grinding them down and even eventually lead to them becoming weak and chipping, it can also hurt the integrity and general health of their teeth and gums. Some children even develop a habit that is so far reaching that they grind their teeth in their sleep. This issue is usually corrected with the use of a nightguard that is fitted by a dentist.
Throughout the course of this brief guide, you have hopefully learned that there are numerous oral health issues that can affect your children and that their oral hygiene should be considered paramount.
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