Possible Dental Conditions in Children

Potential dental problems in kids are abundant, but which ones do you need to seek dental care for and which are considered an ordinary part of development?

As a basic rule of thumb, if you're worried about a possible dental problem in your kids, you should confer with your pediatric dentist.

Only a dentist competent in pediatric dentistry can determine if your child’s dental condition needs treatment.

Nonetheless, there are some common dental problems in kids that every parent should know about.

Bedtime teeth grinding is quite common in many kids and can bring about more serious problems if it's not treated. Not only does teeth grinding damage the tooth enamel, but it can lead to serious damage to the child’s jaw as well. Sometimes the treatment for this dental problem is as simple as having your child wear a night mouth guard to protect their teeth and jaw. Visit your pediatric dentist to have a custom fitted night guard created for your child.

Cavities, or caries, are one of the most common potential dental problems in kids.

Sure, cavities might be a part of normal childhood memories nonetheless they can quickly become a life threatening condition. When a dental cavity in a child becomes infected, known as an abscess, this pocket of infection can burst and travel through the body via the bloodstream.

If the infection travels to the brain, the spinal cord, or the entire body, the child can become septic, paralyzed, or even die. For this reason, a pediatric dentist should handle dental cavities in youngsters immediately. It's wise to check your child's mouth on a weekly or monthly basis to see if there are any obvious issues going on it in. In addition, kids should see the pediatric dentist every six months for a thorough exam.

With the numerous technological advances in children’s dentistry, potential dental problems in kids are quite a bit less serious today than in years past, but many conditions do require close monitoring and frequent professional treatment to avoid adversely affecting your kids well into adulthood. Remember, whatever dental habits you teach your kids now are what they'll carry with them into adulthood.

Many pediatric dental offices are now “pain free” and treat kids without painful procedures and treatments. This new approach to pediatric dentistry helps children learn to visit the dentist frequently without fear and to embrace healthy oral care and be responsible for the condition of their teeth.