avoid gum disease with good oral healthGum disease is a progressive issue that affects the health of your teeth and the quality of your smile.  Having poor oral health can also affect your physical health. Typically, adults are the ones who come into the dental office with gum issues, but children can be affected as well.
The good news is that dedicated early care and treatment can help avoid problems with gum disease.

Children and Gingivitis
While it is rare for children to develop severe gum disease, they can develop gingivitis. Gingivitis causes swollen, red gums that may bleed during brushing and flossing.
If you notice that your child is experiencing these symptoms, it’s important that you schedule a dental appointment. Regular flossing and brushing is vital to the treatment and prevention of gingivitis. If treated early, further gum disease is prevented.

Teenagers, Plaque and Calculus
Adolescents and young adults may experience more advanced periodontal disease, especially if they haven’t practiced good oral hygiene. Increased gum inflammation and the development of plaque and calculus, which must be removed by a dentist, are symptoms that a problem is present. Adolescents may experience these issues around puberty, so it’s essential that they continue having regular checkups to catch problems before they become more severe.

Catching Problems Early
It’s important that your child see a dentist at the first sign of gum disease. If left untreated, it will progress and in severe cases gum disease can result in tooth loss. Even if your child is young and has only baby teeth, avoiding tooth loss is a vital indicator for future oral health. Regular checkups and good dental hygiene now will ensure healthy adult teeth in the future.

To learn more about preventing gum disease in children and adolescents, please contact us at (804) 739-0963 or request a pediatric dentistry appointment online. You can trust us at Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics of Virginia to care for the health of your child’s smile “from birth to braces and beyond!”