6 Common Dental Problems For Children Parents Should Know About
on Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Gresham Parents Seek Family Dentistry Services With Gresham Family Dentistry
Parents, when you’re looking for family dentistry services in, come on into Gresham Family Dentistry! We’re eager to offer the best in family dentistry services to your whole family. With our family dentistry services, we monitor the dental health of your family to keep everyone smiling and happy.
6 Common Dental Problems For Children
One of the things you have to learn as a new parent is how to help your children take care of their teeth. As part of our family dentistry services, Gresham Family Dentistry is here to help you secure that knowledge. One way parents can prepare for a lifetime of good dental health for their children is to familiarize themselves with potential dental pitfalls. The most common types of dental problems for children include the following.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is a preventable disease. While tooth decay might not endanger your child’s life, it can negatively impact the quality of life. Gresham parents can prevent this by watching what children eat. When teeth and gums are consistently exposed to large amounts of starches and sugars, acids may form that begin to eat away at tooth enamel. Carbohydrate-rich foods such as candy, cookies, soft drinks, and even fruit juices leave deposits on your teeth. Those deposits bond with the bacteria that normally survive in your mouth and form plaque. The combination of deposits and plaque forms acids that can damage the mineral structure of teeth, with tooth decay resulting. Of course, if tooth decay becomes a problem, bring your child in for family dentistry services at Gresham Family Dentistry.
Sensitive Teeth
Your teeth expand and contract in reaction to changes in temperature. Hot and cold food and beverages can cause pain or irritation to people with sensitive teeth. Over time, tooth enamel can be worn down, gums may recede or teeth may develop microscopic cracks, exposing the interior of the tooth and irritating nerve endings. Just breathing cold air can be painful for those with extremely sensitive teeth. If your child has sensitive teeth, consult with Gresham Family Dentistry to learn how to help them.
Gum Disease
Gum, or periodontal, disease can cause inflammation, tooth loss, and bone damage. Gum disease begins with a sticky film of bacteria called plaque. Gums in the early stage of disease, or gingivitis, can bleed easily and become red and swollen. As the disease progresses to periodontitis, teeth may fall out or need to be removed by a dentist. Gum disease is highly preventable and can usually be avoided by daily brushing and flossing. One indicator of gum disease is consistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth. As part of our family dentistry services, Gresham Family Dentistry looks out for the signs of gum disease to prevent the disease from worsening.
Bad Breath (Halitosis)
Daily brushing and flossing help to prevent the buildup of food particles, plaque, and bacteria in your mouth. Food particles left in the mouth deteriorate and cause bad breath. While certain foods, such as garlic or anchovies, may create temporary bad breath, consistent bad breath may be a sign of gum disease or another dental problem.
Canker Sores
Canker sores (aphthous ulcers) are small sores inside the mouth that often recur. Generally lasting one or two weeks, the duration of canker sores can be reduced by the use of antimicrobial mouthwashes or topical agents. The canker sore has a white or gray base surrounded by a red border.
Orthodontic Problems
A bite that does not meet properly (a malocclusion) can be inherited, or some types may be acquired. Some causes of malocclusion include missing or extra teeth, crowded teeth or misaligned jaws. Accidents or developmental issues, such as finger or thumb sucking over an extended period of time, may cause malocclusions.
Get All The Best Family Dentistry Services And Advice Through Gresham Family Dentistry
Be proactive about your oral health — schedule an appointment today for an oral checkup for your baby with Gresham Family Dentistry. At Gresham Family Dentistry, our priority is your comfort. We provide quality dental services for the entire family including sedation dentistry, children’s dentistry, oral surgery, dental cleanings, and more!
Our hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM and Thursday 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
To schedule a visit, contact us or call 503-661-2600.
