3 Dental Issues That Can Occur In Early Childhood

Posted on: 16 June 2017

Your child's teeth can be affected by a number of things, even before teeth come in as an infant. There are a number of dental issues that can affect your child in their early stages, some of which can be prevented. See below for some dental issues to look out for in your child and what things you may be able to do to help.

1. Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Baby bottle tooth decay happens when your  baby's teeth are exposed to sugar too often. Sugary drinks such as juice, formula and milk that sits on your child's teeth or gums can erode their teeth, even ones lying below the gum-line that haven't yet surfaced. Prevent tooth decay by not allowing your child to go to sleep with a baby bottle. If your child needs a bottle to sleep, be sure to use just a little bit of water instead. Also use a damp washcloth to clean your infants gums and/or teeth to get the sugar off of their teeth and gums. 

2. Thumb Sucking

Thumb sucking may be cute at first, but you should try your best to stop this habit, especially if your child is continuing to do this after their toddler years. It can cause your child's teeth to become misaligned and lead to an overbite. It can also cause an issue with the jaw alignment as well. Also, using the washcloth to gently massage the gums can help when teething.

3. Premature Tooth Loss

Losing baby teeth is a completely natural part of growing up, however, if your child is losing teeth too early, it could be from other issues such as injury, not enough jaw space, or from decay. If your child is losing baby teeth too soon, such as before the age of 5, be sure to take your child in to the dentist right away for an exam. If teeth are lost too soon, it could cause the neighboring teeth to grow in crooked or to shift if they are already in place. It could also lead to future problems with the jaw and with crooked permanent teeth.

Be sure to take your child to the dentist for an exam and checkup as early as age one. Wipe down your infants teeth with a damp washcloth to remove milk/formula residue, and when teeth begin erupting, use a small toothbrush with a small amount of water to clean the teeth and gums. Talk to the dentist (go to website) about any issues you may be noticing with your child and ask what can be done to prevent further decay and future damage. 

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