Usual Dental Problems Children Have

Children always have their hands full with the following dental problems: cavities, decay, and gum disease. Parents should regularly brush their children’s teeth to prevent these dental problems from happening. Clipping the first molar (tooth #16) and cleaning between teeth are also helpful methods for preventing cavities and gum disease.

Cavities

Cavities are white or brown discolored holes that have appeared in the teeth caused by decay. Cavities occur in young children when they eat sugars and carbohydrates like cookies, ice cream, and candy. Also, if your child’s teeth are coming into contact with the adult teeth either upright or in the gums, cavities can start to form near those adult teeth that are emerging. If a child does not regularly brush the teeth, cavities can get destroyed by the tooth’s insides. Also, cavities can be caused by using some oral appliances like braces.

There are two types of cavities, primary and secondary cavities. Primary cavities are those that occur on their own without any other cause. On the other hand, secondary cavities are caused by a bacterial infection. The main difference is that they are often less severe because they can be prevented by brushing and flossing better without having a cavity existing in the first place.

The best way to prevent cavities is making sure that a child has healthy amounts of vitamin C in their system, which allows them to prevent bacteria from forming on the teeth. Vitamin C is found in many vegetables and fruits such as red peppers, oranges, squash and potatoes. It is also done drinking things based on fruits and vegetables such as smoothies.

Parents should also brush their child’s teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. The fluoride in the toothpaste helps strengthen teeth and stop any decay from occurring on the teeth left exposed. Also, fluoride helps coat the teeth’ surface, making it harder for bacteria to stick to the teeth.

Tooth Decay

Decay can occur anywhere on a child’s teeth. Decay appears as white or brown spots inside the tooth. This happens when bacteria eat away at the tooth’s enamel and dentin walls, later called caries. The teeth left exposed at the tooth’s fronts are also susceptible to decay. Decay can also be caused by a child’s chewing gum containing sugars or growing old enough to drink soda. If a child has decay, you can do things to remove the decay and replace the enamel on the affected tooth with a filling.

Ashes, baking soda, and vinegar are the most common recipes to remove decay. First, put the ash in a small glass. Then add 1 tsp of baking soda and 1 tsp of vinegar. After that, pour in a pinch of salt and gently put on a lid over the glass. Please put your child’s tooth over the glass so that it fits right up to the rim directly. Brush the teeth with fluoride toothpaste afterwards.

Overcrowded Teeth

Dental overcrowding places excessive pressure on the teeth.

Stained Teeth

Dental problems can become an issue for children when their teeth become stained due to foods and drinks. Children often tend to bite on food that is not yet digested, which may cause stains on their teeth and are usually seen as white spots but can be yellow or brown. It is not recommended that children do this, but it occurs with some frequency, so it impacts their health.

Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding, if done improperly and continuously over time, can cause damage to teeth by causing the teeth to wear out or even fracture. Because of this, the child may get multiple cavities. Grinding the teeth may also cause bacteria in the mouth to build up inside and around the teeth, which can spread through saliva droplets and be transferred if they land on the handles of certain utensils. This can also cause tooth decay, cavities, and loss of tooth enamel.

Infection

If the bacteria in the mouth grows beyond a certain level, it can remain in the tooth and cause an infection that can occur infrequently. This often happens if a child’s teeth are overcrowded. An excessive amount of bacteria can lead to gum problems and teeth chipping. Tooth decay is often seen when gum tissue gets infected by harmful bacteria from items that have been touched by a child or accidentally ingested.

Plaque

Teeth are susceptible, and for this reason, regular dental care should be given to children so that plaque does not start forming on them. Proper brushing will prevent plaque from creating and destroying the tooth’s surface. Children must brush their teeth gently and regularly to avoid the kind of damage that occurs when they put their teeth into hard items such as toys which force the child to bite down harder than they usually would, causing potential harm to their teeth.

It is generally easier and cheaper to prevent dental problems than treat them. It is also necessary that children eat appropriately and drink drinks based on fruits and vegetables. For example, simply drinking a fruit-based juice instead of regular soda or juice can significantly benefit their teeth. It contains vitamins that help in the regeneration of teeth, gum tissue, and healthy bacteria in their bodies.

Results of Wearing Braces after Treatment

Braces are among the standard dental procedures assigned to children, and it involves placing small wires or bands around the teeth and their use to change their positioning. This is usually done to correct dental malocclusions caused by how a child’s teeth are positioned.

This can be done for both permanent and temporary use so long as it is used for at least two years. It is a simple process but can be effective depending on how well it is done. Many people believe that braces are only worth it if the results are noticeable and worth the time. While this is true for many cases, some cases where the results were not as good as desired.

Some options can be made as to what kind of expected results. There are braces like the Invisalign clear aligner, which is used for the temporary placement of braces and is less noticeable. Invisalign has seen results in teeth strength, alignment and gum health. There are many good things observed with this type of braces; however, they have a few side effects like an irritation to the gums and teeth that can cause bleeding from chewing sticky foods.

There are also traditional braces that are used as well. They use wires, rods or bands to pull on the teeth and have been around for many years. It is believed that the more a child wears braces, the better the results. Therefore, some people choose to place them on their children for extended periods. However, this is not always the case. Many studies have shown that results are very similar between a year and two years of wearing braces.

However, there are some cases where braces do not lead to the desired results. This happens when the way they were installed or placed could have impacted how they looked after treatment. The positioning or placement of them in children’s mouths can lead to two common issues:

One is when they are too high and put on children with poor jaw positions. The other is when they are too low and are placed on children whose jaws can’t hold the weight of the wire.

A holistic approach to dentistry emphasizes a holistic view of the whole body, not just specific parts. Acupuncture, chiropractic and massage therapies can be used with traditional dental services to treat underlying problems that contribute to oral health issues. These problems include hormonal imbalances, vitamin deficiencies, digestive disorders and systemic diseases. A holistic dentist will recommend and refer the patient to other practitioners to seek holistic oral health.

The word health (health) means a healthy state of a living organism that lives in harmony with its environment. Holistic dentistry is concerned with the entire well-being; thus, dental care must reach far beyond gums and teeth. The goal is to restore, promote and maintain good health at every level – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual – by working in harmony with nature’s laws.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the common causes of dental problems in children?

Dental problems in children are often caused by poor oral hygiene habits, such as not brushing or flossing for long periods and overeating sugar.

Are dental problems more common in children than adults?

Dental problems are more common in children and adults than the general population realizes.

What are the causes of poor oral health?

Poor nutrition, drug abuse, tobacco use and stress can lead to problems like cavity and bad breath. Appropriate chewing can prevent some of these problems.

What is holistic dentistry?

Holistic dentistry is a branch of dentistry that considers the patient as a whole before and after treatment.

How can dental issues be prevented?

The following measures help prevent dental problems:

• Eat a nutritious diet.
• Practice good oral hygiene.
• Visit your dentist regularly for checkups, and get enough sleep.

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