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3 common childhood oral health issues (and what you can do about them)

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Keeping our kids’ teeth remain cavity-free and intact important to their overall health and well being. Here are three frequently occurring childhood dental problems (they also apply to adults, of course) you should keep in mind and how you can prevent and address them.

1. Tooth decay

It’s the single most prevalent chronic childhood disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Also known as dental caries, it is five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever.

What you can do: Make sure your child brushes twice daily and flosses, sees the dentist every six months for an exam and cleaning, and avoids sugary foods.

Fluoride helps strengthen and protect teeth, so talk to your child’s dentist to determine if he or she should be getting it from sources other than drinking water.

Also be sure to discuss sealants with your child’s dentist. These coatings are applied to chewing surfaces to protect teeth and prevent tooth decay.

2. Grinding

You may be surprised to learn that nighttime teeth grinding is prevalent in children. According to the American Dental Association, they often outgrow it by adolescence and it is not typically damaging due to the quick change and growth of children’s teeth and jaws. However, there may be underlying causes such as allergies, misaligned teeth, stress, and mouth irritation that should be addressed.

What you can do: At night, observe your child while he or she is sleeping. Listen for grinding and gnashing. If your child commonly complains of headaches or earaches, teeth grinding may be the cause. Talk to your child’s dentist or doctor if any of this sounds familiar.

3. Dental injuries

We want our children to play and be active, but sometimes the fun ends with a damaging blow to the mouth. Chips, cracks, loosening, and total knockouts happen. Up to 30 percent of children injure their primary teeth, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

What you can do: Make sure your child wears a mouth guard when participating in sports such as soccer, hockey, basketball, lacrosse, volleyball, and others listed in Nationwide Children’s article on mouthguards in sports..  In its “Policy on Prevention of Sports-Related Orofacial Injuries,” the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry reports accidents reportedly account for 10 to 39 percent of all dental injuries in children.

Encourage kids to take running and other activities outdoors, remind them to keep their shoelaces tied, and emphasize the importance of not opening things with their teeth or chewing on items other than food.

If your child does experience an injury to his or her mouth, call the dentist or go to urgent care or the emergency room as appropriate. Visit KidsHealth.org for tips on dealing tooth injuries.


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