Dental concerns in children are very much similar to adults. There is a tendency to ignore dental issues as many believe that milk teeth will fall off and importance to the oral health needs to be given when permanent teeth emerge. This thought is far from the real fact. Milk teeth are space savers for permanent teeth. Damage to milk teeth will affect the health of the gums and also the condition of the permanent teeth.

Understanding the common dental concerns in children will help parents take the correct and proper care.

1.    Cavities

Like adults, many children if not more are affected by tooth decay or cavities. The main reason for this is the nature of food consumed by children. Sugar is present throughout all food- be it milk or juice or cereals. Decay in the tooth is caused by bacteria that live in the mouth that feeds on sugar. A sticky covering called plaque envelops the teeth due to bacterial action. This will wash away the protective covering of the teeth. This action will expose the inner layers of the teeth and if ignored this will cause decay in the teeth.

2.    Habits like thumb-sucking

Childhood is the time when children pick up a lot of habits. Most kids practice it as they have a calming effect. Thumb sucking is one such issue. Normally thumb sucking stops when the child is about4- 5 years of age. It requires attention if it continues beyond age. Constant thumb sucking will result in an abnormal bite. Overbite or underbite can affect how the tooth erupts – affecting both the baby teeth and adult teeth. It affects the health of the roof of the mouth and also leads to speech problems.

3.    Tooth grinding

Grinding or bruxism is the term used for tooth grinding or clenching. This happens unconsciously and while sleeping. Many children display this habit when they are upset or stressed. Constant grinding of teeth can lead to loss of dental enamel, the teeth will be flattened and loose out its grooves. Loss of enamel will hasten tooth decay and other infections in the teeth, the oral health will continue to decline. Due to the severity of this habit, a portion of the tooth can even be chipped off. Headache, pain in the neck and difficulty in sleeping are all related problems.

4.    Bad breath

Halitosis is common in children; this happens due to a lack of personal hygiene. Children would not know or give much attention to proper brushing and flossing. Food debris will remain in the mouth and bring about infection and accompanying bad breath. This can also be caused due to sinusitis, tooth decay etc. It is important to know the real cause of bad breath in children and not ignore it. Bad breath could also be a symptom of other dental issues.

5.    Gum diseases

Infection in the mouth affects the gum lining of the teeth. This infection is caused by plaque or tartar build up. This can be a minor one – causing swelling of the gums or it can also be severe. If severe it can pull away the gum lining away from the teeth and create a pocket. This invites bacteria to concentrate in the pocket and cause more damage to the gum lining and result in loss of teeth. Children must be taught to notice symptoms such as reddish swollen gums, and bleeding when brushing to prevent harm to oral health.

6.    Early loss of teeth

Baby teeth must fall out at the proper time. Teeth begin to fall out starting at the age of four and by the time the child is in his or her teens, adult teeth will all be in place. Due to poor dental health or due to accidents if teeth are lost early, it can pose a problem for adult teeth. Adult teeth will not develop in their position but move to other spaces. Overcrowding of teeth can also result.

7.    Tooth sensitivity

Irritation and discomfort caused in the teeth when hot or cold food is consumed are called tooth sensitivity, inhaling cold or hot air can also cause similar results. While this does not as such create problems, they point towards the nature of oral health. When the outer protective layer of the tooth is eroded the inner layers become exposed, that is when teeth sensitivity is experienced. Steps should be taken to reduce damage to the dental covering.

8.    Crooked tooth

Crooked teeth are seen in children when the teeth that come out are not able to fit in the space available for them. Overcrowding of teeth is seen in this case. Long term use of pacifiers or thumb sucking can all lead to this issue. If there are crooked baby teeth then chances are high of having crooked permanent teeth. Dental procedures can be considered to move the teeth into their position and remove overcrowding of teeth.

9. Mouth sores

Mouth sores or canker sores are small sores that are seen in the mouth. They can be seen inside the cheeks, below the tongue on the lips and even on the gums. Injuries and food deficiencies are known to cause sores. These sores are quite small, they can appear in clusters and are quite painful. They do not grow into bigger size and usually will disappear on their own in a few days. It is important that sores in children are checked by the dentist to take care of possible food deficiencies.

10. Tooth discolouration

Discoloured baby teeth are generally whiter than adult teeth. Discolouration of baby teeth is seen due to plaque build-up in the teeth. Inadequate cleaning of teeth can result in plaque build-up and teeth end up losing their colour and turn yellowish. This can also be caused due to certain medications, or injury to the teeth due to trauma or accidents. It is important to take expert advice from dentists before deciding on treatment.