Children's dental problems

As adult teeth, children’s teeth can also suffer from certain problems. These include cavities, abscesses, malocclusions, trauma injuries, childhood gingivitis and bacterial stains.

In addition, they sometimes suffer from abnormal positioning, resulting in excessive overlap or spacing. In some cases, baby teeth may be uncomfortable during eruption, or they may not fall out in time. The causes of common problems with children’s teeth are therefore varied: it is always recommended to consult a dentist.

CAVITIES AND ABSCESSES

Cavities are common in children. It occur when food residues are not removed with a proper cleaning: bacteria accumulate in the mouth, giving rise to dental plaque, a harmful substance that in turn leads to cavities. However, abscesses are less frequent (i.e. infections of the teeth). Symptoms vary depending on the situation, but usually include fever, bad breath and swelling of the affected area of the face.

MALOCCLUSION AND ABNORMAL POSITIONING OF TEETH

When we talk about the most common problems that children’s teeth can present, we cannot fail to mention malocclusion. This is an incorrect alignment of the upper arch with the lower arch. It is usually due to hereditary factors or incorrect habits such as prolonged use of the pacifier, mouth breathing or atypical swallowing. In addition, toddlers’ teeth are often irregularly positioned. It means, they overlap or are too far apart. As malocclusion, these alterations are also potentially the cause of skeletal disorders.

TRAUMA AND STAINS

Other common problems in children’s teeth are those caused by trauma. It is not uncommon for shocks or falls to cause the detachment of a small piece of the crown, more or less important fractures, luxations. Bacterial stains can also appear on children’s teeth. They are first concentrated near the gum line and, if not treated, they spread to the rest of the enamel.

PROBLEMS WITH MILK TEETH

As already mentioned, baby teeth can in some circumstances cause pain or other discomfort to the child at different stages of growth. They sometimes take a long time to fall out: it is up to the pediatric dentist to decide whether or not to proceed with extraction, in order to facilitate the eruption of the permanent tooth in a correct way.

DENTAL PREVENTION FOR KIDS

Why is dental prevention important for children? It is very important to take care of your teeth from an early age. If oral hygiene is neglected, the bacteria in the oral cavity will continue to multiply, promoting the formation of cavities. These latterscan cause severe pain to the child , as permanent teeth, baby teeth also have a dental pulp composed of vessels and nerves. Prevention is a fundamental aspect that must not be neglected if we want to ensure the proper development of our children’s permanent teeth. Learning how to take care of your child’s teeth at an early age will help your child continue to do so when he or she grows up.

• Children tend to mimic all parent’s behaviors. So, involve and teach them your routine. They will see the importance of oral hygiene.
• During the first year of life: massage the gums with a soft, damp cloth after meals;
• From 1 to 3 years old: start introducing them to the toothbrush, but without using toothpaste;
• 3 years and older: introduce a toothpaste that your child likes.
• It is important to administer fluoride to the child from the first months. This substance, if taken regularly, helps the enamel to harden, which reduces the possibility of cavities forming.

A proper diet

There are also some dietary precautions to follow to prevent cavities :

1. Limit sugar intake as much as possible;
2. Avoid sweet foods between meals and especially before going to bed;
3. Eat foods that require long chewing and are rich in fiber;
4. Brush your teeth after every meal;
5. Avoid giving milk to your child before bedtime if the teeth have already been brushed; lactose is highly cariogenic;
6. Choose water over soft drinks

During the initial examination, we will be able to determine the best available treatment for your children’s dental care needs in Geneva. Moreover, we can define the treatment plan, the expected duration of treatment and the approximate cost.

Stop by the office for a visit, or call us at 022 310 50 77 to arrange a consultation with our dentists for your child!