Caring for Baby's Gums
You can start caring for baby's gums right away. But at first, the care won't involve a toothbrush and toothpaste. Instead, take these steps:
This will wash off bacteria and prevent them from clinging to gums. Bacteria can leave behind a sticky plaque that damages infant teeth as they come in. Need to make an appointment for your baby make sure look for a friendly place for kids near you.
Flossing is an important part of maintaining a healthy mouth for your child, yet a recent study found that only 4 out of 10 Americans floss on a daily basis. Brushing teeth alone only cleans the visible areas and misses out on the spaces between teeth and leaves your child vulnerable to acid buildup and tooth decay. But don’t worry! We want to help you find the right floss for the specific needs of your child.
Does Your Child Have Gaps in Their Teeth?
If so, then dental tape is a great solution to floss the hard-to-reach spaces in their teeth. Dental tape is wide, flat and designed to be gentle on exposed gums. The width of dental tape makes it easier for small hands to grasp it, and makes it more forgiving when children use too much pressure while flossing.
Are Their Teeth Tightly Bunched?
Teeth that have no visible gaps can be hard to floss because of the limited space. If your child has such teeth, then waxed floss might be the best flossing solution. Waxed floss is thinner than dental tape, and the waxy nature is designed to glide easier between tightly bunched teeth. Because waxed floss is on the thin side, it is important that your child applies less force when flossing so that they don’t mistakenly cut their gums.
Do They Have Braces?
Braces and other orthodontic appliances can cause floss to shred, and also make it difficult to reach the nooks and crannies of teeth that require flossing. If your child has braces, then we suggest that they floss with a floss threader – a device designed to help those with braces floss. Floss threaders make it easier to reach the spaces in teeth impeded by braces and orthodontic appliances. Spongy floss is another great option for those that have oral appliances.
Varied Spacing Between Teeth?
If your child has different sized spaces between their teeth, then ultra floss is the choice for you! Ultra floss can stretch thin to clean between tightly bunched teeth, but is also wide enough to comfortably clean wider spaces. Ultra floss is a waxed dental floss that slides easily between teeth of all shapes and sizes and is marked by its ability to stretch into a thinner size.
Most Importantly, Floss Daily
Regardless of the floss you choose for your child, the most important thing is that they floss daily. You can help them at first to ensure that they are flossing properly and thoroughly cleaning between their teeth.
Does your child have bleeding gums from flossing? If so, they could be developing gingivitis. Bring them into our office for a comprehensive oral exam. During their visit, we will thoroughly evaluate the state of their oral health and provide a range of treatment solutions based upon our conclusions. Visit our office today to help your child earn a great, healthy smile that they will proudly enjoy for the rest of their life!
Has your child ever come to you with bleeding gums? If so, there are a number causes that could be the culprit, but the one to watch out for is gum disease. Below, we discuss some common causes of bleeding gums, and when it’s time for your child to visit the dentist.
New Toothbrush
A new toothbrush with firm bristles can sometimes cause gums bleed. If you just bought your child a new toothbrush, check the bristles to see how firm they are, or look on the package to see what types of bristles it has. You should always buy toothbrushes with soft bristles, which clean as well as firm bristles, and are much easier on gums and teeth. Additionally, make sure your child isn’t brushing their teeth with too much pressure, which can also cause bleeding and damage sensitive gums.
Medications
Certain medications can cause gums to become inflamed and extra sensitive, which can make them more susceptible to bleeding. If your child has just started a new regiment of medications, then they might be the culprit. Make sure they stick to their medication routine, but have them be gentler when they brush so that they don’t irritate their sensitive gums.
New Flossing Routine
If your child has just started flossing, then they will most likely experience some minor bleeding. This is because deep crevices in the gums are incredibly sensitive and are easily agitated when someone begins a new flossing routine. Bleeding gums caused by flossing usually subsides in about a week. Visit our office If your child is experiencing bleeding gums for more than one week after beginning flossing, since this may indicate a more serious problem that requires treatment.
Gum Disease
If your child has gums that bleed easily, or that are red, swollen and tender, then they may have gum disease. Gum disease can be caused by a number of factors, but it is most commonly associated with poor oral hygiene. Also called periodontal disease, gum disease is also caused by excessive plaque buildup. The best to keep gum disease away from your child is a good oral health routine. Make sure that they are brushing twice daily for two minutes at a time and that they floss once per day.
Visit Our Office
If your child has bleeding gums that last more than one week then visit our office so that we can prescribe a proper treatment plan. Gums that bleed for more than a week often indicate some form of gum disease that needs to be treated by a pediatric dentist. Visit our office today to help your child get healthier gums, and a smile that they’re proud to share.
Periodontal disease forms just below the gum line and creates small pockets that separate the gums from the teeth. Periodontal disease has four stages: Gingivitis, Early Periodontitis, Moderate Periodontitis, and Advanced Periodontitis.
Stage 1- Gingivitis: The bacteria from plaque cause gum irritation that leads to inflammation. The gums appear red, inflamed and swollen. There is also a chance of some gingival bleeding.
Stage 2- Early Periodontitis: The inflammation progresses into the supporting structures of your teeth. The minor bone loss can result in a pocket. Also, your gums continue to bleed.
Stage 3- Moderate Periodontitis: There is continued inflammation and destruction of the supporting structures of the teeth. The bone loss now extends between the roots of teeth. It becomes more noticeable and some tooth movement as well.
Stage 4- Advanced Periodontitis: This is the most severe form of gum disease. At this stage bone loss and tooth mobility increases; eventually leading to the loss of one or more teeth.
Start early brushing to prevent gum disease and loss of teeth in the later stages of your child’s oral development. Visit your closest kid friendly dentist to learn more about periodontal disease.
There are different types of Dental Floss. Regular flossing with any of these choices will help the fight against plaque buildup: Waxed/Un-waxed, Flavored/Unflavored, Wide/Regular, Textured/Smooth. There are also flossing tools, Pre-threaded Flosser or Floss Holders, that may be helpful for children that are just starting to floss or who may have limited movement with their hands. Your child Dentist will show you different methods for flossing such as the “Spool Method” or the “Loop Method”. Don’t Worry Your Dentist will be there to Guide You.
Any questions give your local Toothtown Pediatric Dental Office a call at 561-333-4568!
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1037 S. State Road 7 Suite 215
Wellington, FL 33414