Childhood is that phase of our life that is full of adventure, exploration, and growth. As a parent, we always want our kids to be in good health, which includes good dental health. Thus, it is important that they follow oral hygiene well and take all the preventive measures to avoid any problems while they grow.

Children’s dental problems are quite common and are the same as we adults. However, their teeth are softer and younger and need utmost care from an early age itself. If you are looking for a cosmetic dentist Rancho Bernardo then you should visit the entire team of Dr. Reha Hekmat and his team. They are helping people in San Diego in achieving and maintaining long-term dental health and a beautiful smile forever.

As a parent, it is important that we try to understand the most common pediatric problems and the reasons for them to happen.

So, here we are going to discuss these problems for your help:

Tooth Decay or Cavities: Most kids are on a heavy sugary diet, which makes their teeth prone to tooth decay. This is caused by a sticky plaque that is accumulated on the tooth surface. The acid that is present in the plaque eats away the enamel making the tooth wear off. In such a situation, it is a parent’s duty to brush the kid’s teeth till they are able to firmly hold the brush and clean it properly.

This should remove any food particles, bacteria, and plaque to prevent this tooth decay. Even if tooth decay happens, you need to take them to the dentist immediately who will do drilling to remove the decay and fill the hole with a hard composite material.

Tooth Sensitivity: Sensitivity in your teeth is quite distracting and uncomfortable. There are various factors that can lead to this tooth sensitivity and this includes decayed teeth, newly erupted teeth, acid erosion, enamel wear, teeth grinding, cracked or missing teeth, or orthodontic treatment. So, if your child is suffering from teeth sensitivity then you should visit the dentist to avoid getting more worse.

Dental Emergencies: Dental emergencies can happen at any time. Accidents can happen anytime such as playing sports, fights with siblings or sometimes falling from the bike are all dental-related accidents. This may result in teeth chirping, breaking, or cracking. Sometimes, a permanent tooth may get knocked out completely. So, if your child meets with such accidents, then you should rush to the cosmetic dentistry Rancho Bernardo immediately. You should place the tooth in a glass of milk, saline solution, or clean water. Then the dentist would place the permanent tooth back in your socket with the help of a retainer. The best way to avoid dental emergencies is to place a custom mouthguard to avoid any further injuries.

Pediatric gingivitis and gum disease: Gum diseases are mostly seen in adults. But this may occur in children as well. Gingivitis is a gum disease that makes the gum red, and swollen and there can be gum bleeding too. It is more aggressive in kids who have poor oral hygiene. Your kid may have to suffer unbearable pain, inflammation, and irritability. Such problems can be avoided if your child brushes and flosses his teeth regularly.

Orthodontic problems: Many kids have straight teeth without any problems. However, some may suffer from orthodontic problems, which are misalignment issues such as overbite, underbite, open bite, and spacing problems. If there is significant overcrowding and misalignment of your teeth then you may face jaw problems, cracked teeth, and other oral hygiene issues. In such cases, it is always better that you take your kid to a dentist at the age of seven or eight. The earlier the better so that your kid can smile with confidence.

Excessive Thumb sucking or pacifier usage: Most kids are used to this thumb sucking or pacifier usage because of anxiety issues. But this is ok till they reach the toddler stage and not beyond that. This habit can lead to issues like open bite. This is when an upper front tooth doesn’t come together with the lower front teeth. This will leave a gap when the mouth is closed. The difficulty here that your kid will face is the inability to chew and bite properly and speech problem.

Make an appointment with the pediatric dentist Rancho Bernardo.