Preschool and School-Aged Problems of the Teeth and Mouth
Dr. D.Sendhil Nathan MDS, DNB Prosthodontics And Implantology
Oral health is an issue that has taken precedence amongst preschool and school-aged kids. It is the number one health issue currently and that is of much concern, especially for kids below the age of 15.
There are many surveys that state that one out of 10 kids suffers from some sort of tooth decay. In such a scenario, it becomes vital for kids to have good oral hygiene habits that are inculcated into their daily routine.
Having said that, here are some common problems that are encountered by children below 15 especially when it comes to their teeth and mouth:
1) Incorrect brushing motion
As a kid, it is very important that your child’s brushing technique is comprehensive and covers all regions present in the mouth. The brush should cover all types of rotations – up and down, left and right & circular.
If you are creative, you could teach him/her a small game to perfect the brushing technique.
2) The quantity/quality of toothpaste used
For children, the use of excessive fluoride toothpaste can be detrimental to their overall health. This is why it is mandatory that you watch what kind of toothpaste your pupils use and make sure that it is good for their teeth and gums.
3) Baby bottle tooth decay
Babies are very vulnerable to tooth decay, especially when they consume sugary drinks, fruit juices, and sweets on a frequent basis.
To prevent this common problem encountered by many parents, you ought to:
- Reduce the sugar in your kid’s diet.
- Clean your kid’s teeth after every meal.
4) Thumbsucking
Thumb sucking is a widespread problem that is encountered by pretty much every parent. If your kid is used to thumb sucking, give him/her a safe object that they can keep in their mouth instead of their thumb.
Also actively discourage thumb sucking and offer incentives for better behaviour when it comes to oral hygiene.
The reason being, thumb sucking can cause a host of issues including:
- Teeth misalignment.
- Overbite issues.
- Communication issues when they grow up.
5) Tongue Thrusting
Tongue thrusting is also a bad habit that is practised regularly by children leading to teeth alignment issues and speech development problems.
6) Premature Tooth Loss
Children sometimes suffer from premature tooth loss resulting in condition like TMJ & crooked teeth.
To avoid issues like these, it becomes vital that you teach your kids good oral hygiene habits and take them to regular dental checkups so that the issues are nipped at their bud.
