Did you know gum disease often goes unnoticed in children? Unfortunately, symptoms of gum disease aren’t very apparent until late stages, which can lead to infections and even tooth loss.
Gum disease is caused by bacteria and plaque collecting in the mouth due to poor oral hygiene. If left untreated, it may lead to your child getting gingivitis or periodontal disease. Although gum disease is common in children and adults, you can prevent it by having good oral habits and visiting your McAllen pediatric dentists.
What Are Early Signs of Gum Disease?
As mentioned earlier, symptoms may often go unnoticed in children, but there are abnormalities to look out for. Signs of caution include:
-
- • Red, inflamed gums
- • Painful or tender gums
- • Receding gums
- • Loose teeth
- • Teeth separation
- • Puss in between teeth
- • Mouth sores
- • Bad breath
- • Changes of feeling in teeth when eating
- • Gums bleeding when brushing teeth
Gum disease is caused by having bad oral hygiene. Creating a good routine, such as brushing twice a day and flossing, helps prevent oral health issues and instills great habits that will benefit your children into their adulthood.
With February being Gum Disease Awareness Month, it is also a great opportunity to educate your kids on gum disease and why it is important to brush and floss.
If your child is experiencing any of these warning signs, please make an appointment with their pediatric dentist. The sooner you get their teeth checked, the greater the chance of reversing any damage.
How Is Gum Disease Treated in Children?
The objective when treating gum disease is to essentially remove or control any infections. The dentist will check your child’s teeth for affected areas. Once any issues are discovered, a plan of action is created to start treatment.
The first thing the dentist will recommend is to schedule a deep cleaning, which uses special instruments to clean under the gums as well as the teeth. Deep cleaning will eliminate plaque and tartar that have built up above and below your child’s gum line.
There are many different options for treating children’s gum disease. The treatment depends on the severity of the infection in your child’s mouth.
Some treatments for kids include:
• Scaling and Root Planting – This nonsurgical procedure deep cleans and removes tartar and plaque above and below the gum line by scraping it off. This method is called scaling. Root planting is when the surface of the root is evened out and makes it a bacteria-free environment allowing the gums and teeth to attach.
• Medication – Although no medicine cures gum disease, medication can still take a part in treating infections.
• Surgeries – Again, depending on the damage already established, surgical treatments may be needed. There are a few different surgeries as options on how to treat the specific degree of damage. Surgeries can be necessary when the tissue around the teeth is beyond repair, but usually, nonsurgical treatment can be sufficient.
McAllen Pediatric Dentists Would Love to Keep Your Families Smiling Bright
Having gum disease and infections can cause your kids to have low self-esteem. With this information, we hope you implement a great oral routine with your children, such as brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and using mouthwash, to prevent damage to their oral health.
Getting your child’s teeth cleaned regularly is also crucial to preventing gum disease. So make sure to make frequent appointments with your McAllen pediatric dentists for checkups and teeth cleanings.