Caring for an Elderly Parent With Special Dental Needs

I Didn't Know That Could Happen! Pediatric Dental Problems

20 March 2019

Joe Lawrence

Many parents begin to stress about their child's dental health once they are into their adolescence. This is due to the fact that most children do not have their permanent teeth until they are in their teen years. However, many dental problems can plague your children's dental health long before a permanent tooth comes into the picture. Here are a few things that parents need to be aware of in order to protect their children.

Gum Disease. It may surprise some parents to know that young children can get gum disease and gingivitis just like adults. Little kids whose parents do not teach them to brush their teeth or wash out their mouths are likely to have gum break down due to sugars and food being lodged between their teeth or into their gums. This pattern of neglecting one's gums may start out in childhood but is often carried into adolescence and adulthood, often causing individuals to need a gum graft before too long.

Dental Decay. Many parents do not hesitate to give their children sugary drinks such as soda or fruit juice. Some parents have even been known to give their babies fruit juice in bottles in order to lull them to sleep. This can be a most damaging habit to fall into, since that sugar is eating away at your children's teeth. This can be even more damaging than adults who drink sugary drinks because the enamel on a child's teeth can be up to 50% thinner than adult enamel.

Misaligned Teeth. In addition to gum disease and tooth decay, children may develop habits in their youth which lead to misaligned teeth. These habits can include sucking on a blanket, thumb sucking, or putting other body parts in their mouths while they sleep. Any of these habits can push teeth into a strange alignment, which may need to be corrected with braces in future years. In extreme cases, misaligned teeth may even need to be extracted, depending on where the tooth ends up.

In summary, start teaching your child about dental health as soon as you can. They may not even understand that the little brush they are sucking on is helping to clean their mouth, but parents should make an effort anyways. As a child grows, explain the benefits of good dental hygiene. Teaching good habits when children are young can save a parent thousands of dollars throughout their lifetime. For more information, talk to your dentist.

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