Common Dental Problems in Kids

Children are affected by a number of oral health problems which commonly lead to a visit to the dentist. While some of these are normal developmental issues such as thumb sucking or teething, problems such as decay or early tooth loss can be prevented or treated to limit the amount of damage caused to your child's overall dental health.

Teething

• Babies who are teething relieve swollen gum discomfort by chewing.

  A baby's first tooth will appear between the ages of five and seven months. During this process, the teeth move and break through the gums. This is called teething and while it may cause your baby discomfort, it is normal. Problems occur because parents sometimes mistake other medical problems as symptoms of teething. Drooling, chewing and swollen gums are caused by teething. It does not cause colds, diarrhea or high fevers. Children that exhibit these symptoms should see a doctor.

Nursing Bottle Caries

• Bottle caries are caused by juice, milk, and formula but are very preventable.

  Nursing caries, also called baby bottle tooth decay, are tooth decay that occurs when children sleep with bottles of milk or juice. Nursing caries are typically found in children between the ages of 1 and 2 years, but breastfed infants who fall asleep while nursing are also at risk. Nursing caries begin as white spots on the teeth and eventually brown areas that lead to destruction of the tooth. Parents should not allow children to go to bed with anything but water in order to avoid this childhood dental problem.

Thumb-Sucking

• Thumb-sucking after the age of 5 can cause dental problems.

  Thumb-sucking is a common childhood habit that starts early in life. This is normal for most young children and doesn't usually cause dental problems if it is stopped by age 5. However, thumb-sucking has caused issues once the front teeth begin to come through. Bite problems, protruding teeth and infections have been attributed to thumb-sucking.

Tooth Decay

• Cavities result when tooth enamel is destroyed by sugars and starches.

  Tooth decay, or destruction of the tooth enamel, is also called caries or cavities. It is one of the most common childhood dental problems and is preventable. Tooth decay occurs when foods that contain sugars and starches such as milk, candy, soda, juice and cereals are left on the teeth. The bacteria that live in the mouth change these foods, creating acids. The combination of the food, saliva, bacteria and acids form plaque, which sticks to the child's teeth. The tooth enamel is destroyed over time, causing cavities. Brushing your child's teeth, gums and mouth at least twice each day and flossing after the age of 2 will help prevent tooth decay. Eating a balanced diet that limits sugary snacks will also help avoid this common dental problem for kids.

Broken Teeth and Early Tooth Loss

• Mouth guards can prevent tooth loss in childhood sports.

  Children are active and many are involved in sports such as hockey where accidents may occur that break teeth or knock them out completely. Falling off a bike or tripping over a toy can also lead to chipped teeth. Often if a fall occurs and a baby tooth is chipped, dentists will leave the tooth if it isn't too badly damaged or remove it. Losing or having baby teeth removed early can cause teeth in your child's mouth to shift to fill the empty space so the dentist may suggest putting in a spacer to keep the space open until the permanent tooth comes in.