Children are prone to a lot of different dental issues because they are usually not very careful about their dental hygiene and love to consume sweets in all forms. Although most dental issues are mild and don’t have any permanent effects on your children’s teeth, a few things to watch out for are:
- Tooth Decay – This is the most important thing to watch out for because it’s one of the most preventable dental issues anyone can have. Prevention from childhood is very important because once the tooth decays, there aren’t really any second chances. We all know that foods that are high in sugar, sticky, or contain a lot of starch are all harmful to your teeth and should be eaten in limited quantities. However, eating frequently is also harmful to your teeth because it doesn’t allow the saliva to have enough time to do it’s job and neutralize the acid in your mouth. The bacteria that naturally lives in your mouth tends to bond with the food residue and create plaque and when the plaque and acid meet, your tooth structure gets negatively affected resulting in tooth decay.
- Bumps or Chips – When kids are young enough to still have their baby teeth, this isn’t as much of an issue. If the chips are severe or the tooth remaining is sharp, they may need to be taken care of before any more serious injury occurs. However, when kids get bumps or chips on their permanent teeth it is important to see your dentist right away to see if there is any underlying damage that has been done that may result in tooth loss later on. If a permanent tooth gets completely knocked out, the best thing to do is gently clean it and make an emergency appointment with your dentist to put it back in its socket.
- Grinding or TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) – Children who grind their teeth or clench subconsciously are at risk for not only dental problems but also for headaches, neck aches and earaches. If the problem is chronic, the chances of the damage being permanent are very high. Your dentist can usually help by fitting you with a mouth guard for when you sleep.
Dr. Lorraine Burio of Candlewood Dental Care has been practicing in the New Fairfield, CT area for over 25 years. Candlewood Dental prides itself on pampering children when they come in to make their visits a fun and positive experience. If you or your child needs to see a dentist, call us at 203-746-1200 or make an appointment here.