Most Common Dental Issues in Kids

Dental issues can arise from the time your child develops their milk teeth. As a parent, you want to take all the best steps to ensure your kids oral health is thriving. Here’s a look at some common kids oral health issues in kids that can be prevented and what to do in an emergency.

Pacifier and thumb-sucking

Most infants resort to thumb-sucking to soothe themselves – some even suck their thumbs in the womb. Most babies give up the habit by six or seven months.

Toddlers who use a pacifier are more likely to develop ear infections, and thumb-sucking can cause more germs in the mouth and tooth decay in children.

Wean your child off thumb-sucking and pacifiers well before their permanent teeth appear. The earlier you start weaning them, the easier it will be for them to break the habit. You can begin weaning your child off these habits as early as 12 months.

If your baby sucks their thumb or pacifier after age four, it may affect how their teeth develop and cause an open bite, when the upper and lower front teeth fail to bite down on each other, biting and chewing become difficult.

You may ask yourself what can be done to correct any issue from long-term pacifier use and thumb sucking? A children’s dentist may advise orthodontic treatment to correct the issue.

Tooth decay

Tooth decay in children occurs when bits of starch and sugar-containing foods (sweets, bread, cereals, fruit, etc.) remain in the mouth. Bacteria in the mouth work on these foods and make acids that eat away at tooth enamel and cause cavities. One of the most common chronic disease affecting children in Canada is tooth decay.

Early symptoms of tooth decay in children include white spots beginning to form where the enamel is starting to break down and light brown spots – signs of early cavities. Deeper cavities appear as darker brown or black spots indicating decay progression.

Suppose your child has poor oral hygiene, a diet high in sugars and starches, or high levels of cavity-causing bacteria in their mouth. In that case, they are more likely to develop cavities. Another cause of tooth decay in children is a lack of fluoride in the water supply.

Tooth decay left untreated can lead to gum disease, pain, and infection, requiring urgent kids dental care.

While a cavity is not a dental emergency, urgent kids dental care treatment might be needed to treat painful abscesses, loss of teeth, and infections.

Ouch! We have a dental emergency!

What is considered a dental emergency in children

Chipped, broken, or cracked teeth are all considered dental emergencies and warrant urgent kids dental care. Sometimes, a permanent tooth may be knocked out and will require a kids emergency dental treatment.

What are the do’s and don’ts of a child’s dental emergency?

Do stop any bleeding.

Don’t panic.

Don’t worry about finding knocked-out baby teeth.

Do try to find any pieces of a broken tooth.

Don’t touch the tooth’s root.

First aid recommendations before getting to the emergency children’s dentist

If a permanent tooth is lost, have your child rinse their mouth with tepid water to stop the bleeding. Next, schedule an appointment for your kids emergency dental treatment. Place the tooth in cold milk (not water) if you find the tooth. Do not try to wash out the tooth in hot water or with any cleaning agent.

Note: Any face, neck, or head trauma warrants immediate medical attention at the nearest hospital or emergency room.

Dental problems are easier to avoid than they are to treat. As a result, a reputable children’s dentist will always emphasize the importance of ensuring your kids oral health. In the event of an accident involving children, kids emergency dental treatment is critical; any dental issues must be addressed promptly to avoid further complications.