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You may delay your child’s first dental appointment, thinking that children don’t have problems with their teeth. The truth is, children experience many of the same dental issues as adults, plus a few more. Regular check-ups are crucial to preventing future problems, and parents should also watch for certain conditions.
Cavities
Children naturally have certain behaviors that can lead to cavities. For example, drinking from bottles or sippy cups, especially when filled with fruit juice, can lead to cavities in the front teeth. Kids who frequently have stuffy noses will breathe through their mouths, which reduces tooth-cleansing saliva. Finally, kids are frequent snackers and sometimes have haphazard oral hygiene habits.
To help prevent cavities, begin brushing your child’s teeth as soon as they come in and continue supervising brushing and flossing until your child is 9 or 10 years old. They often don’t have the coordination to reach all areas of their mouths.
Crooked Teeth
Many parents worry when they see their children’s permanent teeth coming in crooked. Teeth that are crooked are more prone to decay, and a crooked smile may affect your child’s self-esteem. Often, thumb-sucking or early tooth loss can cause teeth to come in crooked.
An orthodontist can examine your child’s teeth and determine if they need braces. Many times, if caught early, preventative measures can be taken, such as using space maintainers for baby teeth that are lost before permanent teeth are ready to come in. Alternatives to braces, such as clear plastic teeth retainers, may also be an option.
Shark Teeth
“Shark teeth” occur when a child’s permanent teeth come up behind the baby teeth, creating two rows of teeth. Typically, the root of the baby tooth dissolves as the permanent tooth pushes up through the gum. But sometimes the permanent tooth “misses” the root and it doesn’t dissolve.
If you see this happening, you can help the process along. If the baby tooth is a little loose, keep wiggling it and encourage your child to work at it, too. If the tooth is stubborn and won’t fall out, the dentist can easily extract it.
As a parent, you want your child to grow up healthy in all areas, and that includes dental health. It’s important to know what tooth problems children might be susceptible to and take action to prevent and address them. Remember, you can always talk to your dentist if you have any questions or concerns about your child’s teeth.
Check out this article on 4 important habits to teach kids early in life!
It’s great that you mentioned how children naturally have certain behaviors that could lead to cavities. Our daughter’s dental health is quite good right now and we want to keep it that way. With that in mind, we should probably ask for some assistance from a kids dentist.
Yes, always consult your dentist. My daughter has food sensitivity issues, and it has naturally led to cavities. Just maintaining the health of your teeth isn’t always enough to counteract everything.