Gum Health in Childhood and Adolescence

Healthy gums from early years can benefit your children throughout their life.

When we have children, we naturally want them to have a long, happy and healthy life. As far as dental care is concerned, the last thing that we want is for them to have a painful toothache; those distressing cries are something that no parent wants to hear. Teaching them good oral health habits and how to brush their teeth is a good start, though there is always room for improvement.

In today’s blog, we are going to take a look at how our Burton patients can not only help their children have healthy teeth, but healthy gums too. This is an area that many adults also neglect, but one that can lead to unpleasant symptoms and even tooth loss. Starting them young should hopefully help them to avoid this.

Babies

It takes time for a baby’s teeth to come through and we may think that we don’t need to worry about their oral health until they do. Babies can still suffer from gum infections though and we advise patients of the SG Dental and Implant Centre to wipe their baby’s gums with a clean damp cloth very gently, on a daily basis, to help keep their gums clean. This will not only help to remove bacteria but also prepare them for the feeling of having their teeth cleaned once they have erupted.

Make sure that you use safe teething toys and do a little research on this. The use of less safe ones may cause inflamed gums. If this does happen, for any reason, please contact your dentist for advice. Around their first birthday, you should arrange a dental appointment for your baby for a check up. It is unlikely any treatment will be needed but it is good to check and will help to prepare them for future dental visits.

Toddlers

As teeth come through and babies turn into toddlers, it is important to start cleaning their teeth. You should do this gently, using a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Make sure to brush gently around the gums as well as the teeth. This will help to remove any bacteria that has collected there. You will obviously need to do this yourself until they can do it reliably on their own. Even then you should supervise them for a while. This is also an age when it is good to start to watch their diet, especially when it comes to eating too many sweets. Sugary drinks should also be discouraged apart from on special occasions. Encourage them to drink more water as this helps to keep the mouth hydrated and to flush bacteria away.

Do make sure that once their teeth have been brushed before going to bed, that nothing other than water passes their lips. This even includes a bedtime drink. Water is the only acceptable thing at this point, at least if you have good tooth and gum care in mind.

Teens

Many of the same things apply to teenagers as toddlers. Good quality brushing is important and by this time, regular flossing should also have been introduced. Bacteria and food particles have a habit of becoming trapped between our teeth and flossing is a great way to keep this area clean. As hormones start to kick in around this time, it can have a dramatic effect on their bodies. If you notice any issues such as soreness of the gums etc, don’t just put this down to hormones and make sure to have it checked at your Burton local dentists.

It goes without saying that, as in the past, teenagers need to keep their appointments to have a dental check up. This can be challenging and we all know that teenagers can be stubborn at this age. Whether it takes bribery or blackmail, do what you can to make sure that they keep these.

Especially during the later teen years, challenges to oral health, such as smoking, alcohol and recreational drugs, might come into play. We know that this can be a difficult time for parents and we urge you to look out for any potential signs so that you can try to intervene early. Smoking, alcohol and drugs are bad news for their teeth and gums and should be discouraged as much as you possibly can. While vaping is relatively new, and may not be as bad as cigarettes, it is likely that they may be damaging too and are best avoided if possible.

In summary then, please don’t forget about your child’s gum health and do what you can to control any factors such as diet and smoking that may harm their oral health. Seeing a dentist for a check up every six months is also an essential part of this.

To make a check up appointment for your children, or for yourself, please contact our family dentists by calling the SG Dental and Implant Centre on 01283 845345.