Common Dental Concerns for Children
Baby teeth are susceptible to many dental concerns from the moment they erupt. It’s important to seek advice from a pediatric dentist during your child’s first dental appointment so that you can protect their smile as they grow. We’ve created this guide on some of the common dental concerns for children, and hope that this aids you in educating your child about the importance of dental care.
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
You can prevent the early development of cavities by caring for your child’s oral care a few days after birth. Cleaning your baby’s mouth by wiping down the gums with a clean gauze pad or washcloth will help remove plaque that can harm erupting teeth. Once their teeth begin to grow, it’s important to softly brush them with a special toothbrush topped with a small amount of toothpaste.
If your child sleeps with their bottle, be sure to have them finish their formula before they sleep. As any leftover formula can create an environment for cavities to develop.
Dental Emergencies
Children can be active and playful, and some may be in little leagues, developing a love for their individual sport. It’s important to protect their smiles with a mouth guard because dental emergencies can occur at any time. Mouth guards will prevent broken teeth and injuries to the lips and face.
As with cavity treatment, pre-fabricated crowns are applied to damaged teeth so that the rest of your child’s smile is intact, functional, and properly aligned.
Over-Retained Teeth and Smile Alignment
If there is a permanent tooth trying to erupt with a primary tooth already in place, this I know as an over-retained tooth. If not removed by our pediatric dentist, it can cause impacted permanent teeth and improper alignment of the smile. Early diagnosis is essential in the treatment of removal of these baby teeth.
Orthodontics
As your child’s smile develops, their bite may not form properly whether due to genetics, missing or extra teeth, crowded teeth, and misaligned jaws. Thumb sucking for a longer period of time may cause this as well. During your child’s bi-annual check-ups, your pediatric dentist will diagnose any signs of needed orthodontic treatment Treatments such as space maintainers and extraction can help keep their young smiles in alignment until further care may be needed.
At Capitola Kid’s Dentistry, Dr. Reder and his team are here to provide quality pediatric dental treatments to keep children’s smiles happy and healthy. For more information about common dental concerns, or to schedule a visit, contact our practice today!