Most Common Dental Problems For Children

By Author: Susan Melrose
Total Articles: 1
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Every single parent should be aware of how important it is for children to visit pediatricians. Unfortunately, the same thing cannot be said about dentists. There are way too many parents that mistakenly believe that dental problems only appear at a later stage in life. In truth, baby teeth care is just as important as what we already know. Dental problems in children can easily lead to numerous problems, including infections and discomfort.
In order to highlight why you should visit your Weston Creek dentist as soon as possible, let’s talk about the most common dental problems children experience much more often than what parents think.
Tooth Decay
Cavities tend to develop slowly. However, they can happen in children. The truth is that 40% of children between 2 and 5 end up with at least one dental cavity. This is so much more than what you might think.
The big problem is that detecting cavities is difficult with a naked eyes. This is always the case during early decay stages. When you arrange a dental cleanings schedule with the dentist, he/she will ...
... be able to find cavities when they are very easy to fix. When caught early, tooth decay is not a problem. At early stages, pediatric crowns might be needed.
Tooth Sensitivity
Teeth are covered by enamel, which is very important since it protects from the effects of bad bacteria. When the enamel ends up being too thin, the tooth is vulnerable to the appearance of decay. Also, the tooth becomes more sensitive to heat and cold.
Unfortunately, tooth sensitivity is something that can affect anyone. In fact, it is more common with children because primary teeth always have much thinner enamel. Kids are actually really prone to tooth sensitivity.
Loosened Teeth
This is quite common for children that are active or play sports. Accidents can always happen. When an injury happens in the facial area, teeth can easily end up loosened.
A big problem is that most parents believe that loose teeth are not a problem if they are primary teeth. The assumption is that this just makes room for the appearance of the permanent tooth. In reality, when teeth become loose because of injuries, a root canal or a crown might be needed. The dentist can also extract injured teeth if permanent teeth are close to growing.
Early Gum Disease
Gum disease is much more common with adults but it can also happen to children. When the gums of the child are swollen and red, the problem has to be treated as soon as possible. A failure to do this will lead to much more serious problems. Pediatric dental cleanings will help in the treatment of gum disease. The child might also have to use some specialized cleaning techniques or rinses when at home.
Misaligned Teeth
Malocclusion is the technical term used by dentists to refer to dental misalignment. This is something that can naturally happen or can be inherited. Even extended thumb sucking is known to cause malocclusion. When this is a problem found by the dentist, orthodontic treatment is usually needed.