Mother, child and brushing teeth in dental hygiene, morning routine or healthcare together by mirror in bathroom. Happy mom and daughter cleaning mouth in tooth whitening, oral or gum care at home.

Pediatric Periodontics: Caring for Children’s Gum Health and Development

Caring for your children’s teeth is more than just keeping cavities at bay. Gum health also plays a crucial role in your child’s dental development. With good habits, regular dental checkups, and cleanings, you can help your child set a foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles. The first step on a healthy oral care journey is teaching them the importance of healthy gums.

Understanding Pediatric Periodontics

Pediatric periodontics is a specialized area of dentistry that focuses on a child’s gum health from birth through adolescence. A periodontist can prevent and treat gum diseases such as gingivitis in children, helping to ensure their gums stay healthy as their permanent teeth grow in and develop. Pediatric periodontics emphasizes the importance of prevention, early detection, and intervention for supporting a child’s long-term oral health.

Common Gum Health Concerns in Children

We usually focus on preventing cavities when contemplating our child’s oral health. However, other issues can negatively affect the health of a child’s gums.

Gingivitis

This mild form of gum disease is caused by poor oral hygiene. Gingivitis can lead to red, swollen gums that sometimes bleed when your child brushes or flosses. Fortunately, gingivitis can be easily reversed if it is treated early.

Plaque buildup

Sticky bacteria called plaque build up on teeth and gums if they’re not removed regularly. Untreated plaque turns into tartar, removable only at a dentist’s office. Tartar irritates the gums and can lead to infection.

Irritation when teething

When a child’s baby teeth grow, they usually experience tender, swollen gums. This tenderness is normal, and it’s not gum disease. However, the soreness can make it more challenging to clean the gums.

Overgrowing of gums

Some children experience gum tissue overgrowth, which can be caused by genetics or certain medications. Gum overgrowth increases the risk of gum disease because proper cleaning is a challenge.

Children Who Are at Risk for Periodontal Disease

According to the children’s health division of Stanford Medicine, specific things may increase a child’s periodontal disease risk, including:

  • Chronic mouth breathing, which can lead to severely dry gums and teeth
  • Certain genes
  • Poor diet
  • Medications that cause gums to grow too much
  • Exposure to smoking and smokeless tobacco
  • Repeated teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism) that a child can’t control
  • Systemic or autoimmune disease
  • Bodily hormonal changes like puberty
  • Diabetes

Early Intervention

Early detection is critical to managing your child’s gum health. Infected gums may be red, sore, or swollen. Also, watch for symptoms of gum disease that can include bleeding when your child brushes or flosses, gums pulling away from the teeth, persistent bad breath, and pus between the gums and teeth. If you notice teeth that are loose or separating and have greater spacing than usual, this can also be a sign of gum disease.

How to Manage Pediatric Gum Disease

If your child has gum disease, treatment will vary depending on their symptoms, general health, and age. The severity of the condition will also be a determining factor. The key is to detect gum disease and treat it early. Treatment should include regular dental care and professional cleanings by a dentist. If an infection is present, the dentist may prescribe antibiotics for treatment or put antibiotic medicine into the gum pockets.

If severe gum disease is detected, the child may need deep cleaning, also known as teeth scaling and root planing. In the disease’s early stages, teeth scaling can help remove the tartar and plaque that builds up under the gum line. Root planing smooths out the damaged surfaces of the roots. Once teeth scaling and root planing are complete, it’s easier for the gums to reattach to the teeth.

Advanced gum disease may require surgery, in which the areas underneath the gum line are cleaned, and tissues are replaced or reshaped.

A Periodontist in Vero Beach, FL

If you’re seeking a dentist in Vero Beach, FL, Dr. Jeff Brown and his team are here to offer guidance for giving your children the best possible dental care. Dr. Brown has been published in the Journal of Periodontology Online as a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. Schedule your appointment at Vero Implants and Periodontics by calling (772) 569-9700 or contacting us via our online form.