Parents should safeguard the health of their children. One of the ideal ways to protect the well-being of your child is to focus on healthy oral care practices. Although you can carry out most of these tasks at home under your guidance, there’s no replacement for seeing a dentist.
Did you know that a poor diet and inadequate tooth brushing during the first two years of a child’s life can increase their risk of cavities? Cavities can even begin in a baby’s first tooth. Tooth decay in baby teeth can also increase the risk of cavities in permanent teeth.
Remember that there are aspects of dental care and treatment that only a professional can deliver. Regular dental care, including routine check-ups every six months, is crucial to ensure good dental health. In between the check-ups, it might be necessary to have your child’s teeth checked to prevent potential problems from coming up.
Here are several signs that your child needs to see a kids dentist Abbotsford or in your local area:
1. Pain Or Discomfort
When your child complains of tooth or mouth pain, call a dentist and set an appointment immediately. Pain is how the body signals that there’s something wrong. The earlier the dentist can assess your child, the sooner the condition can be dealt with.
Gum disease and tooth decay are the two most common causes of dental pain. An infection of the gums or a tooth (an abscess) can also cause pain. Maybe your child can have a tooth that is fractured or cracked. Infections and harm from teeth grinding to a tooth are two more sources of pain. Pain might also be caused by a tooth that is trying to erupt but is being blocked by the gum.
In case you have any dental concerns between the check-up appointments, get in touch with your dentist so that your child will undergo a thorough assessment as early as possible. You don’t want your child to experience any pain or discomfort for too long.
2. Gum Irritation Or Bleeding
It is not unusual for young children to experience sore gums. Many things, including a tooth, erupting, and food impaction, might contribute to this condition. But, if the pain is consistent your child may be at risk for gum disease.
When your child starts to complain of gum pain or discomfort after brushing or if the gums appear red, swollen, or even bleeding, set an appointment with your pediatric dentist Abbotsford for further assessment. Once the gums are irritated, it might be a sign of gingivitis or other health issues.
When minor swelling occurs, it’s usually temporary and can resolve over time. However, gums with significant inflammation in a specific area might be a sign of formation abscess. An abscess in the gums is a clear indication of infection due to tooth decay. The dentist needs to manage both tooth decay and the swollen area.
The gums might also bleed quickly with minor trauma, such as aggressive brushing or flossing. If there’s severe bleeding, it’s likely due to inflammation, which indicates gum disease. In such cases, the dentist will treat the site of bleeding and administer preventative treatment to keep the gums healthy and strong.
It is better to watch for signs that indicate your child is having problems with his gums and also ask if he feels all right or if there is something he wants to tell you. Kids often try to hide the pain but when it comes to sore gums the discomfort will be obvious and he wants relief.
3. Discoloration On Teeth
Once you notice what seems like white or chalky spots on your child’s teeth, consider it as a sign of dental caries developing. If you observe that a tooth is beginning to turn brown, black, or there are broken fragments present, call a dentist so that your child will undergo an examination as soon as possible.
Tooth decay can rapidly progress. If you see even minimal discoloration on your child’s teeth, don’t delay setting an appointment so the dentist can examine the teeth.
In addition, tooth discoloration can harm your child’s self-confidence and it can also be an indicator of something harmful to their dental health, such as plaque buildup or possible tooth decay.
Parents can teach their children how to manage dental hygiene habits and what to expect when doing so. Watch their diet and ensure they don’t eat unhealthy foods that contain excess sugars, starches, or colored dyes. Sugars and starches can produce bacteria that will become acidic and weaken the enamel, improving how well the teeth can develop stains and collect whatever dyes are in one’s foods.
4. Increased Sensitivity To Hot Or Cold
If hot chocolate or ice cream triggers dental pain or discomfort in your child, it might be a sign of developing dental caries in which a cavity is starting to form.
Tooth sensitivity is caused by the stimulation of cells within these tubes, causing severe pain when the area is exposed to hot or cold temperatures from food, beverages, or even the air.
Another cause can be cracks in the tooth’s enamel. Extreme temperature changes cause teeth to expand and contract, and over time tiny fractures can appear in the enamel. This can allow hot or cold temperatures to seep through these cracks to the nerves below the tooth enamel.
Cavities can be another cause. Sensitivity to hot or cold foods is often a warning sign that a cavity is forming. Also, fillings that repair cavities can become loose or fall out. It can cause hypersensitivity when the original cavity was cleared out.
5. Loose Teeth
As part of your child’s development, the baby teeth will start to fall out so the permanent or adult teeth will begin to erupt. Losing baby teeth is part of growing up, and the process can occur from 6 years up to 12 years old.
However, if the permanent or adult teeth become loose or wiggly, it’s best to have a dentist assess them.
It is because when loose teeth accompanied by severe pain are often a sign of an infection that must be treated immediately. Without proper and immediate treatment, the infection can quickly spread and cause severe tooth decay and other oral diseases, so make sure to see the dentist for proper treatment and to prevent further discomfort.
6. Issues With Permanent Teeth Breaking Through The Gums
Some children don’t lose baby teeth even after the permanent tooth erupts through the gums. If the permanent tooth cannot force the baby tooth out, the dentist needs to assess and intervene.
In some instances, the permanent tooth might appear crooked or there may be other concerns. The dentist needs to examine and might recommend seeing an orthodontist in the future.
7. Bad Breath
When bad breath doesn’t seem to go away, it’s usually a sign of a dental problem such as tooth decay or infection. Once you observe this in your child, you should set an appointment with a dentist to correct the problem and manage any underlying issues.
Bad breath that persists over time is frequently an indication of a more serious dental health issue. Even when teeth appear otherwise clean, such as shortly after brushing, this typically suggests an infection or tooth decay. If left untreated, tooth decay can become more uncomfortable and could lead to problems.
Conclusion
Once your child experiences these signs, don’t hesitate to set an appointment with a dentist right away. Timely assessment and intervention will ensure good oral health for your child. If you need a recommendation, you can seek oral solutions in vienna for expert advice.
As part of regular oral care, it’s crucial to have your child examined by a dentist every six months. Regular dental care will ensure early detection and intervention of potential dental problems, such as dental caries or gum disease.