Taking care of a baby, let alone twins is a big task for any parents out there. As a parent, it’s natural to be concerned about your kids’ health. If they’re not healthy, developmental problems arise and can become irreversible once they reach a certain age. One way to take a good look at one’s health, whether they’re an adult or a child, is through their teeth.
Spotting a difference in your child’s dental health can provide a clue about what they’re going through. For example, when you notice that your child has been having inflamed gums, sores, and cracked lips that lead to wounds, it could be a sign that they lack vitamins D and B.
With that said, when should you take your kids to the dentist? Here are some tell-tale signs it’s time to visit the dentist.
Teeth Discoloration
Looks are an essential part when growing up. Your children might experience problems with self-esteem and confidence if they have discolored teeth. Children can sometimes have brown, yellowish teeth, primarily because of improper brushing. Plaque, the stuff left behind on the teeth after eating, can become food for the bacteria in your kid’s mouth.
Also, note that several foods can cause stains on your children’s teeth. Food such as fruit, certain juices, cola, berries, and beets can leave stains that can be hard to remove by just brushing. Your dentist will use a mild acid that’ll remove stains on your child’s teeth without damaging normal tooth structures.
As your teeth are a good indicator for health, always visit your dentist if your child begins having tooth discolorations. Although yellowish teeth are probably fine, severe conditions such as hyperbilirubinemia can cause green teeth in children.
Cracks and Chipped Tooth
Children begin to grow teeth as early as six months old. They then begin to grow permanent teeth when they’re six years old. Since kids are also beginning to be more active around this age, they can suffer bumps and bruises when playing. Sometimes, the force from bumping into something or someone can cause chipping and cracking to their teeth.
A chipped tooth is uncomfortable and may have tiny cracks that’ll allow bacteria to enter the tooth’s inner core. Aside from a possible infection, chipped or cracked teeth don’t look great. With cosmetic dentistry, your children’s woes with chipped teeth are over.
Dentists can check the said tooth for any cracks. They’ll also assess if they can reattach the fragment. If there are no cracks or reattachment isn’t possible, your dentists can just recontour your children’s teeth to remove any jagged edges.
Dental Flippers
Dental flippers are used for children who experience excessive tooth decay and trauma that can be enough or necessary for the dentist to extract the tooth. Since permanent teeth don’t regrow, your children might be worried about that missing space in between their teeth.
Dental flippers aren’t solely for permanent teeth. Dental implants aren’t recommended for kids under 18 years old. Your dentist can recommend a dental flipper as an excellent alternative to cover up that missing space for your kids while waiting for the teeth to grow back.
Crooked Teeth
Allowing teeth to grow improperly can result in unhealthy teeth. Your kids can also develop crowded or overlapping teeth, which can cause eating problems. For some kids, crooked teeth can also cause speech problems. Although many people think that braces are purely for cosmetic purposes, braces actually help prevent crooked teeth from developing.
A complete dental treatment using braces usually takes 24 months to take effect. In between those months, your dentist might require your children to visit for readjustments and tweaking. Children who complete their treatments have smooth, normal, healthy teeth. Teeth that grow the right way are easier to clean and have lower chances of contracting gum disease.
Filling Cavities
As mentioned earlier, any crack or opening in your children’s teeth can lead to infection and tooth decay. A tooth abscess is one example of why you should take your children’s dental health seriously—a tooth abscess results when bacteria reach the innermost tip of the root inside the teeth.
Children who have tooth abscesses can experience fever, headaches, painful gums, swelling on one side or both sides of the face, and fatigue. Some also lose their appetite, which can affect their health. A simple remedy to prevent tooth abscess and infection is by filling in cavities.
Dentists use dental filling to fill in that space. A dental filling can be made from amalgam, silver, resin, glass, or plastic. Aside from preventing dental cavities, fillings can also be used to repair cracked or broken teeth.
Taking care of your twin’s dental health is just as important. Problems with their teeth or gums can often result in loss of appetite and pain. If they’re not eating well, their health and development can get affected. A simple trip to the dentist can do the trick to prevent your kids from having painful dental conditions.
