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What Are the Most Common Dental Problems in Children?

Aug 01, 2022

Childhood is filled with adventure, exploration, and growth. However, the initial years of discovery are also places of occasional dental issues such as a broken tooth from a climb on the table or a speck of plaque remaining on the teeth to result in a cavity. Many children’s dental problems are similar to the issues adults notice.

Children’s developing teeth are softer and younger than their permanent counterparts. Therefore, when untreated dental conditions remain in the child’s mouth, they can cause poor and misaligned tooth development leading to severe issues when the child grows up.

Realizing the familiar children’s dental problems and why they occur helps you and your child understand how to prevent them. This article provides some examples of common problems in children with information on how to prevent them from occurring.

What Are the Most Familiar Dental Procedures in Kids?

Tooth Decay

The most chronic childhood condition dentists notice in the kid’s dental clinic is tooth decay. Approximately 20 percent of children between five and 11 have at least one untreated cavity or polluted tooth, and 13 percent of adolescents have similar problems confirm the CDC.

Tooth decay is a result of harmful bacteria that are present in the mouth. Plaque, a sticky film-like substance, constantly accumulates on the teeth. If exposed to sugary and starchy foods, plaque produces acids to cause enamel erosion. In addition, the bacteria in the plaque are in constant contact with your child’s teeth to gradually cause cavities.

Plaque receives encouragement from carbohydrate-rich foods, including candy, cookies, soda, and fruit juice. Unfortunately, a carbohydrate-rich diet coupled with inconsistent brushing habits results in tooth decay. Fortunately, the condition is entirely preventable by teaching your child proper brushing habits and visiting the kid’s dentist in Dorval, QC, for routine exams and cleanings. The visits will significantly reduce the chances of your child developing tooth decay. You can avoid this problem by limiting your child’s diet and getting them to brush twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste and flossing at least once.

Bad Breath

Lousy breath, alternatively called halitosis, affects anyone regardless of age. Bad breath is often blamed on foods. Unfortunately, chronic bad breath in children indicates a deeper root cause than merely eating foods.

Halitosis results from bacteria living in the mouth and feeding on leftover foods, liquids, and plaque. As the bacteria feast on the excess foods in the mouth, they produce hydrogen sulfide, which results in a foul odor in the mouth. A bad smell in the mouth is most common in the morning when children wake up. In addition, the bacteria multiply in the mouth during the night, and if your child’s bad breath persists during the day, it indicates a more significant problem. Proper dental hygiene is recommended by dental care for children as optimal to prevent lousy breath besides treating the condition by using antibacterial mouthwash to reduce the odors and brushing the tongue.

Sensitive Teeth

Sensitive teeth are another dental problem children confront during childhood. If your child experiences sensitivity to hot and cold foods or liquids, they might have sensitive teeth. Sensitive teeth sometimes indicate severe dental problems. People commonly equate sensitive teeth with the elderly population. Unfortunately, kids are also prone to developing this problem when they are affected by enamel erosion that exposes nerve endings. Sensitive teeth are also indicators of undiagnosed cavities or tooth decay.

You can help your kid combat sensitive teeth by getting them dental sealants from the dentist, providing children’s dental care to strengthen their enamel by filling any pits and fissures on the chewing surfaces of their molars. Provide your child with a soft-bristled toothbrush for use at home because hard bristles damage the tooth surface over time, damaging tooth enamel and causing microscopic cracks in the tooth.

Dental Anxiety

Dental anxiety is a common problem affecting children and adults alike. Dental care and dental anxiety are unrelated to oral health but make routine appointments with dentists frightening for children. As your child grows, dental anxiety keeps them from getting essential oral care to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Extended avoidance of dental care results in the need for painful procedures like root canals, tooth extraction, and emergency dental care.

After completing dental school, children’s dentists acquire additional education to help manage dental anxiety among children. In addition, these professionals have a welcoming environment in their practice, allowing them to have positive experiences inside the dental practice.

If you are searching for a skilled and gentle pediatric dental care facility Clinique Dentaire Dorval is willing to help you and your child manage the common dental problems in children comfortably. Kindly organize an appointment with the kid’s dental clinic today with your child to benefit their oral health.

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