Periodontal disease, or gingivitis, is an ailment that occurs in the gums, deep tissues, and underlying teeth bone structure, with severe cases resulting in tooth loss. However, there’s no need to fume and fret: you can prevent this disorder with timely intervention.
Our oral cavity produces a sticky substance called plaque, whose excess buildup causes gum disease in children. A trusted Robina children’s dentist can attribute this phenomenon to inadequate brushing and flossing. If plaque lingers in your child’s mouth, the bacteria can produce toxins that irritate the gums and lead to an infection. The situation could escalate and deteriorate the bones and tissues that secure your child’s teeth.
Fortunately, you can prevent paediatric gum disease and protect your child’s long-term dental health. This blog delves deeper into gingivitis, its causes, and prevention tips to ensure you achieve these objectives, empowering your child to take control of his tooth and gum health well into adulthood.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease occurs in two stages, which include the following:
- Gingivitis: This is the mildest form of gum disease common among youngsters. In this scenario, the gums become red and swollen. They may bleed while your child is brushing or flossing his teeth. Since gingivitis is painless, he may overlook an issue with his gums.
Fortunately, timely professional treatment, check-ups, and regular brushing and flossing can reverse gingivitis before it escalates.
- Periodontitis: Periodontitis occurs when gingivitis progresses and worsens. This stage is a severe form of paediatric gum disease characterised by significant tissue inflammation and infection surrounding the teeth. It can cause gum shrinkage and tooth or bone loss.
What Causes Gum Disease?
Excess plaque is the root cause of most gum disease cases. If left untreated, bacteria can proliferate and trigger periodontitis following this progression:
- Food starches and sugars interact with oral bacteria to form plaque. Although brushing twice and flossing once daily can remove plaque, it can return quickly.
- Stubborn, persistent plaque can harden and become tartar, which can be challenging to remove by brushing and flossing. Only dental prophylaxis or professional cleaning can eliminate tartar, which, along with plaque, carries bacteria that compromise dental health.
- Plaque can lead to gingivitis, which irritates and inflames the gum’s tissues around the base of the teeth. Fortunately, professional intervention and consistent oral hygiene habits can prevent gingivitis and preserve your child’s long-term dental health.
- Persistent gum inflammation can escalate into periodontitis, creating deep pockets between the gums and teeth. Unfortunately, plaque, tartar, and bacteria can proliferate in these gaps and cause tissue, bone, or tooth loss.
Unchecked inflammation can weaken your child’s immune system, resulting in colds, flu, infections, and type 1 diabetes, which can aggravate allergic reactions. For this reason, we strongly recommend regular check-ups. Early detection can help your trusted Robina dentist design an appropriate intervention for your child’s situation.
What Causes Gum Disease?
Several factors cause kids’ gum disease, including:
- Poor oral hygiene: Insufficient brushing and flossing result in plaque and bacterial buildup, causing gum inflammation.
- Nutrition: A diet high in sugars and acid creates a favourable environment for bacteria, resulting in gum disease.
- Genetics: Children whose parents or relatives experienced gum disease may be genetically predisposed.
- Medical conditions: Health disorders, particularly diabetes, can exacerbate paediatric gum disease risk.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms of Gum Disease?
Paediatric gum disease can occur without pain and discomfort. Therefore, awareness of the gum disease’s possible signs and symptoms is critical to your child’s dental health and well-being.
The common signs of kids’ gum disease include the following:
- Bleeding gums: Bleeding gums during brushing or flossing is an early sign of gum disease. Frequent gum bleeding requires immediate medical attention.
- Inflamed or reddish gums: Healthy gums are pink and firm. Swollen, reddish gums could be a sign of inflammation.
- Halitosis: Persistent bad breath stemming from odour-causing bacteria can be a sign of paediatric gum disease.
- Receding gums: In advanced gum disease, your child’s gums pull away from his teeth, causing the former to appear longer. We strongly encourage parents to bring their children to a trusted dental professional when this happens.
- Pain or discomfort: Gum disease may cause pain or discomfort while your child eats or chews.
- Loose teeth: Misaligned or loose teeth can be a sign of paediatric gum disease. Please schedule an appointment with your dentist if you notice something unusual in your child’s teeth.
What Are Gum Abscesses?
Children with chronic gum disease can develop periodontal abscesses, which are cavities caused by a gap infection between the tooth and the gums. Trapped bacteria create these pus-filled pockets or abscesses, which, if left untreated, can cause severe and painful jawbone, teeth, and tissue infections. This fact underlies the significance of early detection and gum disease treatment.
How Can I Prevent KIds’ Gum Disease?
You can prevent paediatric gum disease in several ways, including the following:
- Consistent, good oral hygiene: Please teach and encourage your child to brush at least twice and floss once daily. We encourage monitoring younger children to ensure they do these habits correctly and consistently.
- Balanced, nutritious diet: Encourage your children to eat plenty of fresh produce and drink water. Eliminate sugary and acidic foods and drinks from their diet.
- Regular dental check-ups: Visiting your trusted dental practitioner twice a year for check-ups and teeth cleaning helps prevent paediatric gum disease.
- Monitor symptoms: Please familiarise yourself with gum disease symptoms and contact your dentist if you notice anything unusual with your child’s teeth and gums. This vigilance is a critical part of responsible parenting, ensuring your kid’s excellent long-term dental health.
Adolescent Gum Disease
Hormonal changes during puberty can put your teenager at risk of developing gum disease. Hormones, including progesterone and estrogen, increase blood circulation to the gums.
Consequently, the gums become sensitive, succumb to food and plaque irritation, and become swollen, reddish, or tender.
Fortunately, this tendency will dissipate as your teen gets older. Nevertheless, we recommend that parents encourage their teens to practise consistent oral hygiene to achieve a confident smile and enjoy excellent dental health as they journey through adolescence.
Gum Disease Treatment Alternatives
Gum disease treatment has two stages, including:
- Oral prophylaxis: The first intervention is professional dental cleaning or oral prophylaxis. Your child’s paediatric dentist will eliminate plaque and tartar, polish tooth surfaces, and apply fluoride to strengthen the enamel and prevent cavities. Consistent brushing, flossing, and gargling with an antibacterial mouthwash helps maintain excellent dental health.
- Complex interventions: If your child’s gum disease reaches a critical stage, your dentist will collaborate with a periodontist. Depending on the severity, your dental professional may perform minor surgery to rectify the issue.
Contact Us
Paediatric gum disease is preventable with appropriate monitoring and consistent oral hygiene habits, including regular brushing, flossing, and check-ups. If you suspect your child has gum disease, please get in touch with your practitioner immediately.
For over 25 years, Hains Dental has provided cost-effective, reliable dental services to patients in Robina, QLD, and surrounding neighbourhoods. Please contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our friendly dentists.