Kids can't always tell you when they have dental pain. Here are signs your kid needs to see the dentist.
Chewing food strangely
Is your child chewing food to one side when they eat? Are they not chewing their food at all, but swallowing whole bits of food? Is your child chewing very slowly, especially compared to their normal pattern of rapid eating?
If so, your child may be experiencing tooth pain and may be chewing around the pain to compensate for the discomfort. If your child winces when they bite down on hard food in particular, such as candy, then check their mouth. Small dark spots on their teeth, chips or cracks in teeth, or swollen gums are all signs your child needs to go to the dentist.
Stubborn baby tooth
Some kids have baby teeth that don't fall out when a new permanent tooth comes in to take its place. This is due to the placement of the permanent tooth, which is supposed to help dissolve the roots of the baby tooth so the non-permanent tooth can fall out.
While the baby tooth will usually fall out on its own anyway, a baby tooth that is stubborn and won't come loose and fall out can become an annoyance. To keep infection and pain at bay in your child, take them to the dentist. If the tooth is very stubborn, your child's dentist may order X rays to get to the literal root of the problem.
Drooling
When your baby begins cutting their first tooth, you don't have to take them to the dentist right away. However, if your child is experiencing excessive drooling, blood in their saliva, very swollen black or purple gums, or other serious issues relating to teething, take your baby to a pediatric dentist right away. Your child may have an infection in their mouth or have a yeast infection, known as thrush, on their mouth, which needs medical attention.
Crooked teeth
Crooked teeth is common in children and is usually repaired with braces. Sometimes crooked teeth are so overlapped your child becomes embarrassed by their smile. Take your child to the dentist to see if any spacers or other dental devices can be used to help straighten your child's teeth or if braces are the most logical solution.
There are many dental issues your child will face throughout their lives. Treat their dental problems now to help protect their smiles in the future. Contact a local dentist for more information.
Share24 July 2018
My son was outside playing with some friends when he accidentally fell down and hit his mouth on the sidewalk. The fall knocked out his front tooth, so I immediately placed the tooth in a small jar and added some milk. I rushed my son to the dental clinic and the dentist immediately took us into the examination room. The dentist placed the tooth back into the socket and saved it. My name is Beverly Tillman and thanks to the quick work of the dentist, my son didn't lose his tooth. Since this was a scary time for me and my son, I wanted to write this blog as a source of information for other parents who are facing a dental emergency. First of all, don't panic and get to your dentist as soon as possible. I hope this blog will help to answer your questions about dental emergencies.