Learn more about the most common dental problems to impact children today.
Caring for your child’s smile is just as important as caring for your own. After all, your child’s smile is rapidly developing, and it’s important to recognize when you need to turn to our children’s and family dentist, Dr. Tom Morgan, here in Prior Lake, MN, for care. Here are some of the most common dental problems we see in our little patients these days,
Dental Decay
It isn’t always easy for kids to brush and floss their own teeth, which is why it’s important that parents are caring for their child’s smile themselves until around the age of 7 or 8. At that point, you can start letting your child care for their own teeth, but you should be there to supervise and make sure that they are getting their teeth and gums clean. After all, tooth decay is one of the most common childhood oral disorders, reports The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, with nearly half of children between the ages of 2-11 years old having cavities.
Thumb Sucking
Thumb sucking is a problem for infants and small children, as this habit can impact how your child’s teeth develop. While it may be harmless for an infant to do it, once they reach the toddler stage of life it’s time to find ways to wean your child off this habit. Excessive thumb sucking can lead to the development of an open bite, where the top and bottom teeth do not touch. This can impact speech and make it more difficult to chew.
Dental Emergencies
Whether your child cracked a tooth while playing sports or knocked a tooth out while roughhousing, it’s important that you bring your child into our office right away if they are dealing with a dental emergency. We can treat these issues the same day when time is critical to the preservation of a tooth.
Crooked Teeth
Most children’s teeth don’t develop perfectly straight. In this case, early orthodontic intervention can help to straighten smiles, which can also promote better oral health. A straight smile is also easier to keep clean, making it easier for your child to remove plaque and tartar buildup. If your child has a crooked or misaligned smile, talk with our Prior Lake, MN, children’s dentist about whether their smile could benefit from braces.
If you have concerns about your child’s oral health, our children’s and family dentist Dr. Morgan would be happy to sit down with you and your child. Babcock & Morgan Family Dental is proud to serve the Prior Lake, MN, Savage, MN, Shakopee, MN, and New Prague, MN, communities. Call us at (952) 447-4611.