Common Pediatric Dental Issues And Problems
Posted on: 23 February 2019
Meeting the healthcare needs of a growing child can be a daunting and challenging task. Not surprisingly, there are many new parents that might make some oversights when fulfilling this responsibility. In particular, there are many dental issues that new parents may not adequately appreciate.
Appreciate The Dental Hazards Posed By Thumb Sucking
Thumb sucking can be a normal tendency for children. However, it is important to work to break older children of this habit due to the impact that it may have on their teeth. For example, if a child continues to suck their thumb once their permanent teeth have started to develop, they could experience serious tooth alignment issues. If you notice that your child is struggling with breaking the habit of sucking their thumb, your pediatric dentist may be able to help with this through the use of dental guards that can prevent this from occurring while the child sleeps. Also, the dentist can thoroughly inspect the teeth to determine whether the thumb sucking has already started to contribute to alignment issues.
Monitor Your Child's Brushing Habits
Brushing is another part of dental care that children can struggle to effectively do. This is particularly applicable when parents fail to monitor their children as they brush their teeth. As a result, children may develop improper dental hygiene habits that can be very difficult to break later in life. When observing your child brush their teeth, you should make sure that they are spending at least several minutes brushing and that they floss immediately after brushing. By cleaning your teeth at the same time, you can meet this need while also setting a good example for your child to follow.
Have Your Child Inspected By An Orthodontist
Dental alignment issues can have serious cosmetic impacts on a child. When dental alignment issues are present, a child's teeth can be visibly misaligned. In addition to contributing to cosmetic and self-esteem problems, these alignment problems can also make the teeth more susceptible to an assortment of problems. For example, teeth that are crowded or overlapping can be extremely difficult to effectively clean, which can greatly increase the risks of decay forming. While some parents assume that a child can only be inspected by an orthodontist once all of their adult teeth have developed, it is actually preferable to have children regularly evaluated by orthodontic professionals. In the event that there are alignment issues, the orthodontist will be able to address these problems before they can become too advanced.
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