As adults, we all know the importance of brushing and flossing our teeth daily. Teaching your children about oral hygiene as soon as their baby teeth come in is essential because it shows them how to properly care for their teeth as they grow older. Keep reading to learn about the common oral hygiene complications found in kids and how you can prevent them.
Orthodontic Issues
Unfortunately, children can inherit some dental complications from their parents. One of the most common issues that a parent can pass down is a misaligned bite, known as malocclusion. However, some orthodontic issues can still be self inflicted—for example, thumb-sucking can cause developmental delays such as speech impairments along with malocclusion.
You cannot prevent the inheritance of a misaligned bite, but you can fix the issues through braces or aligners. Additionally, talk with your dentist about monitoring your child’s teeth so that you can ensure they’re growing in and developing correctly.
Gum Disease
Gum disease, or periodontal disease, causes inflammation in the gums, which can then cause tooth loss or even bone damage. This disease begins in the early stages of gingivitis, when a film of plaque forms around the teeth and gums. If your child complains about a bad taste in their mouth or has bad breath, these can be indicators of gum disease.
As always, you can prevent this common oral hygiene complication with daily brushing and flossing. The best way to teach your children is to lead by example, so make it a habit to brush your teeth together every morning so that you can monitor your child’s progress on their brushing skills.
Tooth Decay
Cavities and tooth decay can negatively affect your child’s quality of life. Sugar-rich foods such as soft drinks, fruit juices, candy, and cookies can all leave deposits on the teeth that can lead to cavities and tooth decay. This preventative issue causes sensitivity in the mouth because it damages the tooth’s mineral structure.
Most of these common dental issues are preventable with proper oral hygiene. Make it a habit to practice dental care with your children to help them grasp the importance of task. Help your kids with dental care by flossing their teeth daily and brushing them in the morning and night. Later, monitor your children while they brush their own teeth until you find that they’re capable of doing it themselves. Starting this process as soon as possible minimizes the risk of any future complications.