West Green Family Dental

21350 FM 529 Suite 400 Cypress, Texas 77433

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Dental hygiene tips for healthy teeth & gums

Gum Disease in Children

Gum disease is often misinterpreted as a disease common only in adults. However, this is not the case. Teenagers as well as young children are also at risk for gum disease. It requires a treatment for kids too.

Gum disease is a condition that develops when bacteria and food debris accumulates on the teeth and forms a sticky plaque. As the plaque starts hardening, it develops into tartar. This ultimately results in gums to become swollen and red. The more it worsens, it can cause the teeth to become loose and damaged. In children, the milder version of gum disease, i.e. gingivitis is more common.

Symptoms
The early symptoms of gum disease are puffy, swollen and red gums. They also bleed during brushing and flossing. Bad breath is also a sign of gum disease that does not go away with brushing and flossing. As the disease progresses, your child may develop pockets below the gums around the teeth.

Causes
Teenagers could see issues with their gums during puberty. Progesterone and estrogen are two hormones that leads to blood flow, making the gums even more sensitive. A poor dental hygiene is one of the major causes of gingivitis in children.

Treatment and Prevention
The first step to prevent your child from getting gum disease is to help them practice good dental hygiene. Tell them to brush their teeth at least twice a day. Additionally, establishing a good habit of flossing once per day will help.

Take your child to Cypress Pediatric Dentist after his/her first birthday. Once your child sees the dentist by his first birthday, you should continue to schedule an appointment every 6 months for a checkup or cleaning.

If your child develops a mild form of gingivitis, it can be easily treated via professional dental cleanings and developing a good oral hygiene. However, a gum disease treatment for kids might be necessary if the condition worsens. This could lead to deep cleaning, oral rinse, antibiotics and other medications. In the advanced stages, surgery is the only option left.

We aim to provide exceptional and individualized care to children in a fun and friendly environment. By offering comfort-focused child care, we have been helping your child achieve an oral health that lasts lifetime. If you think that your child may be suffering from gingivitis, book an appointment with us today. We will help diagnose the problem, determine how far the disease has progressed and recommend the right treatment.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.