Dental problems in children don’t necessarily have to do with teeth alone. They are a mix of the child’s functional and dietary habits. Child dentition is always growing and changing. It is the basis for your lifelong oral health. Certain habits leave a huge influence on how dentition and a child’s face grow. A peek into a child’s oral health can actually also give an insight into their complete nutritional and even psychological health. Read along to learn the most common dental issues in children and how to spot them in your child to get the necessary care.
Another common occurrence in kids. Might be in the playground or a playful tackle. In some cases, the entire tooth might also come out of the socket. In such cases, rush to our dentist as soon as possible along with the tooth. Your dentist can work on such child dental emergencies and save the tooth.
Thumb sucking is normal in infants up to 1 year. In some children, even till the ages of 2 or 4. But if your child is still sucking their thumb post this age, it might be a psychological habit they developed to calm themselves down. Not only that, but thumb sucking can cause a lot of negative changes in dentition, like a high palate, proclined front teeth, poor oral hygiene, and more. A habit-breaking appliance can do wonders if given at an early age.
Some children have the habit of breathing through their mouths, maybe in the night or even during the day, this might be due to poor oral muscles or even jaw placement issues. Mouth breathing leads to a lot of gum issues and poor oral hygiene like constant mouth breathing. The child is easily susceptible to cavities too. Talk to your child’s dentist to get an early intervention and treatment.
The usual healthy swallowing pattern is where you place your tongue on the roof of your mouth. However, some children with poor oral musculature have a habit of thrusting the tongue toward the lower front teeth while swallowing. This causes spacing between the teeth which might lead to further dental issues. Your pediatric dentist might suggest some muscle-strengthening exercises for this.
As children start to brush on their own, they might overlook the proper brushing techniques and be done with brushing within minutes. These can lead to debris accumulation and bad breath. They will not be able to notice such oral hygiene issues by themselves. It is very important to get a regular dental checkup at this stage as we do not want any irreversible damage to the child’s teeth.
