When you have a family, accidents can happen. Young children naturally lose their baby teeth from around the ages of 6+ so it is important that they have their check ups often. However, it’s also important to look at the need for emergency dental care and ensure that your insurance covers it. Dentist work can be costly and so you need to be prepared for the things that might go wrong. It’s important to give your kids the best start in life.
Did you know that children can show very early symptoms of gum disease? Gum disease is often referred to as Gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums which can be easy to treat and get control of, but if left untreated or undiagnosed, it can pose a threat and leave them with tooth loss or other issues. Regular checks with the dentist will allow you to be on top of this information and get into a good routine with your kids. However, if your child already has an issue with their gums, they may feel some other uncomfortable symptoms that may mean a trip to the emergency dentist is imminent. Here are some symptoms that they may complain of that my need to be checked out immediately:
- Red or swollen gums that hurt or ache.
- Tender or bleeding gums when they brush.
- Painful chewing which may result in a loss of appetite.
- Sensitive teeth which they complain about during eating.
You should certainly take heed of this and look at joining a dentist that offers all care. You may want to look at Bowral Street Dental Practice for further information on this.
Prevention and aiding your child’s habits
If you know that you are the type of parent to give into their kids and let them have that sugary snack to stop them complaining, then you may need to think of changing up the types of snacks that you give them. Children that consume too much sugar are likely to lose their baby teeth much earlier and whilst this isn’t a major problem, it can mean more damage over time, such as cavities. Whilst brushing and flossing is one major way to promote healthy teeth and gums, this isn’t practical with kids who are under the age of 10 but there are plenty of other preventative methods and techniques such as:
- Avoiding regular snacking.
- Remember to brush twice daily – morning and evening after meals is best.
- Limit processed sugars, hard candies, and carbonated drinks – these erode the enamel and can cause cavities over time. Young children shouldn’t drink too much of this at all for their overall health too.
- Make their oral health a priority – regular dentist trips and talking to the doctor about any symptoms they have had.
- Enjoy the occasional sweet treat, however, that is just fine!
- Help break them out of bad habits – things such as thumb sucking can possibly be a little worrisome because they can push the teeth out and they may need braces, however this is more of an aesthetic problem.
Encourage your kids to look after their teeth and be prepared for all eventualities!