Seven Signs Your Child May Have Unhealthy Teeth or Gums

As parents, you’ve got a lot to worry about. In a perfect world, you will never have to worry about your child’s health — dental or otherwise. After all, a pediatric dentist in Longmont will keep a close eye on your child’s gums and teeth at regular dental checkups and during teeth cleanings. But what about between dental checkups. Do you know the signs that your child may be developing unhealthy gums or unhealthy teeth?

Here are seven common warning signs that your child’s gums and teeth may need dental attention. Don’t feel like you have to wait for these warning signs before getting in touch with a dentist near you. The staff at Longmont Dental are happy to answer any questions at any time. Even more importantly, if you do notice any of these warning signs, contact a dentist near you right away.

Acute mouth or jaw pain

Sudden or significant pain in your child’s mouth or jaw can indicate the presence of a serious infection. An infection that is not addressed right away can undermine your child’s jaw bone, gum tissues, and even the nerves and pulp inside their teeth.

Bleeding or swollen gums

Another sign of tooth infection or gum disease is red — as opposed to pink — gum tissues, especially if your child’s gums are also swollen and bleed regularly.

Bad breath

Not every bout of bad breath means dental health issues. But bad breath that persists even after your child brushes her teeth and rinsing with mouthwash may indicate the presence of bacteria in her gum pockets, on her tongue, or between her teeth.

Wide spaces between your child’s teeth

We know the first thing you think of when it comes to the spacing between your child’s teeth is the dreaded “b” word. (“Braces” and all the related time and expense.) But excessively large gaps between a child’s teeth are significant for another reason, too. Wide or inconsistent spacing between teeth can expose more gum tissue to potentially harmful bacteria than they should be. If your child’s teeth are widely gapped or inconsistently gapped, they should pay particularly close attention to brushing and flossing.

Loose or discoloured teeth

Yes, it’s true that your child is going to lose his baby teeth. But that doesn’t mean you should ignore them — especially if they’re discoloured and especially if one tooth is a different colour than its neighbouring tooth. An individual discoloured tooth can indicate the presence of a serious infection in the interior of the tooth. Waiting for that tooth to fall out on its own is a bad idea. By the time the tooth has become discoloured, the infection is likely very serious and present within your child’s gums and jaw.

Sensitivity to hot and cold liquid

Minor and intermittent sensitivity to hot drinks or cold foods is not something to be concerned about. If sensitivity becomes frequent or constant, though, that may mean your child’s tooth is decaying and that the nerves and tissue in and around the tooth are unhealthy.

Recurring canker sores or mouth ulcers

There are a lot of causes of cankers or mouth ulcers, some of which aren’t well known or understood. What is well understood is that they can be really painful and cause your child a lot of discomfort. If your child gets cankers on a recurring basis, make an appointment with a pediatric dentist in Longmont to rule out or address any serious dental health issues.

If your child has any of these warning signs of oral health problems, don’t delay in contacting a dentist near you to find out if he or she should receive gum disease treatment in Longmont. Whether your child still has baby teeth or already has permanent teeth, the health of their gums is essential.

Gums protect your teeth roots and the interior of a child’s jaw from bacteria and infection that can affect not just their oral health, but their general health, too. To find out if getting gum disease treatment near you or just renewing your child’s commitment to oral hygiene is enough to reverse any problems, get in touch with the staff at Longmont Dental.