Warning Signs that it's Time for your Kids to See their Pediatric Dentist

For most families, we get in the rhythm of seeing the dentist right around every six months.

This is the same for our kids, as long as we help them avoid cavities and other situations that might require extra treatment.

That said, occasionally we’ll notice something new with our children’s dental hygiene — signs that may prompt mild concern or worse. In this case, we recommend giving us a call sooner than later just to make sure it’s nothing too serious.

Here are a few such signs to keep an eye on — all which are treatable conditions:
 

• Puffy, Bleeding Gums
  Possible Cause: Gingivitis, which is a gum disease that causes inflamed gums. It can be remedied with better dental hygiene, including the use of an antiseptic mouthwash.
  

 

• Unexplained tooth or gum-related pain
  Possible Cause: The root cause of a toothache or painful gums can be a number of things, from gum disease to tooth decay (including a cavity). In some cases, a tooth may have suffered a crack or even have become infected, producing an abscess.
  
  
• Whitish spots
  Possible Cause: Seeing the appearance of white-colored spots can be a sign of poor oral hygiene, or even the mark of a new cavity beginning.

 
As medical professionals, the last thing we want you to do is stay up late reading the Internet to try and diagnose your child’s oral hygiene issue. That said, we do want to provide some examples of what to look for when determining if you need to call us up to schedule an appointment.
 
The best news of all is that these conditions are almost always preventable through healthy dental hygiene habits — and sometimes that’s the remedy, too.

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