According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 19% of kids between the ages of 2 and 19 have cavities that are untreated. Your child’s dental health kicks off right before their first baby tooth sprouts. Prompt your child with good oral habits from the first day to motivate them to be more responsible about their oral health as they grow older. There are a few common dental problems in children that stem from poor oral hygiene.
Here are 6 common dental problems in children that should be addressed immediately:
Common Dental Problems in Children
1. Dummies and Thumb Sucking
Fingers in your mouth, the little blanket and toys could get your teeth to shift and make you resemble a beaver or a rabbit. By inserting your finger or any object in your mouth and closing your mouth all around it. This results in your incisor teeth sticking out of your mouth and makes it difficult to close your teeth properly. This results in more difficulty chewing and eating your food properly and you begin talking strangely.
2. Cavities and Tooth Decay
Cavities and tooth decay have become widespread conditions in children today. Increase in consumption of food containing sugar and lack of dental hygiene are the primary causes. As a parent, it is your responsibility to ensure a healthy lifestyle for your child. It is easy to spot tooth decay. The first signs include brown spots on your child’s teeth and red swollen gums. A toothache is another symptom indicating damage to the tooth structure. Today, children consume a lot of sugary and starchy foods. Further, most children are not encouraged to brush correctly.
3. Gum Disease
Gum disease is common in children and results in gum swelling that can lead to bleeding. A routine of brushing, flossing and professional dental care can reverse the problem. Chronic bad breath is a sign your child needs to brush and floss regularly. As the disease worsens, the plaque on your gums will develop even further. There are some potent natural remedies for gum disease you can try.
4. Early tooth loss
Between the ages of 6 to 7 years, your child’s permanent tooth starts erupting and replaces the primary tooth. Children can lose their teeth due to a fall or an accident. It could also be extracted due to severe caries as well an infection in the gums.
5. Tongue Thrusting
Tongue thrusting is essentially a continuation of an immature swallow pattern where the tongue pushes forwards to initiate the swallow rather than pushing up against the palate. This is a pattern shown in children up to the ages of 6 years. Build a new habit that anchors the tongue against the palate as opposed to anchoring it against the teeth. Drills, exercises, and repetitions throughout the day can help reverse the habit.
6. Lip Sucking
Lip sucking is a common habit picked up by children that may be because of change of environment, dry lips or an excessive overbite. Excessive lip sucking results in dry, chapped lips that serve as the perfect breeding ground for skin infections. Dental distortions like occlusion and an asymmetric jaw can also leave your child with permanent problems if lip sucking is left untreated.
Getting an early orthodontic treatment will address poor oral habits like tongue thrusting, mouth breathing, and thumb sucking. This also prevents problems like bad bites and temporomandibular joint disorders.
Author Bio:
Emily Taylor found the perfect fit for herself as the Online Marketing Manager at Thurman Orthodontics in Fresno CA as she believes that a great smile does more than just make a person look great – it makes them feel great as well. The power of a smile has always been a mystery to Emily, and she loves researching and writing about it. She loves to write about everything to do with a healthy bite and a beautiful smile – whether is it ways to achieve it or the importance of it in the various aspects of life. What brings a big smile on Emily’s face is her family and surfing. She also likes to bake, and her children and co-workers call her the cookie fairy!
