Ok. We’ll admit that seeing your toddler’s gums bleeding is quite alarming. There are so many blood vessels in our mouths and facs that any minor disorder can cause significant bleeding and be anxiety-inducing. However, we’re here to help you understand why this might be happening, wheat you can do at home to help your kids’ gums stop from bleeding, and all the ways a specilist in pediatric dentistry can help your child maintain good oral health.
Why Are My Toddlers’ Gums Bleeding
Very well, first things first. Bleeding gums in children can be the result of many dental health problems. In fact, they’re usually a symptom instead of a problem in and of itself.
Rest assured, you’re doing good in wanting to get answers because or gums shouldn’t be bleeding at any point.
The main reason why your kids’ gums are bleeding is an inflammation in the tissues that makes it very sensitive. You must have first noticed that your kid would spit some blood mixed in with the toothpaste. This signals that there’s a problem with your child’s oral hygiene, and you should take the necessary steps to remedy the situation.
More often than not, however, bleeding gums are a symptom of periodontal disease.
What is Periodontal Disease?
We’ll let our friends from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) answer that. Periodontal disease refers to an infection and inflammation of gums and bones around a patient’s teeth.
There are several stages, one more complex than the previous one, but they all have one thing in common: they result from poor oral hygiene.
The levels of periodontal disease include:
- Gingivitis. This is alarmingly common in our society. You may have noticed that your gums and those of your children start looking more red around the base of your teeth. You should be particularly careful about any plaque in your child’s mouth, as it can hide harmful bacteria underneath it and foster the right environment for a severe infection. Here’s how to get rid of the gingivitis that’s haunting you.
- Periodontitis. This one is the more severe case as it is no longer a minor infection and occasional bleeding, but rather, it signals the recession of your gum tissues from around the tooth. Next comes bone tissue erosion, and as these supporting tissues weaken, your teeth could begin to fall off.
What Is the Best Way to Treat Bleeding Gums?
When it comes to oral health, prevention is your best ally. You’ll spend less time and energies on preventing a disorder than treatin it, which is why our first recommendation is that parents help their children learn about the importance of proper oral hygiene.
Brush Your Kids’ Teeth
Brushing your teeth after every meal is crucial to removing any unwanted food debris in your mouth and between your teeth. Children need this more than you might think initially.
Baby teeth are not as durable as permanent teeth. Since primary teeth have weaker enamel layers to protect them against harmful bacteria, brushing teeth with fluoride toothpaste (if the kid is old enough) is crucial.
Use Dental Floss
Brushing your children’s teeth is only part of the puzzle. Sometimes, your brush cannot clean every nook and cranny or crevice between teeth. This is where dental floss comes in. It may appear challenging at first, but you can easily floss your teeth by grabbing a piece of dental floss and wrapping it around your index fingers, then pinch the ends with your thumb and index fingers and start flossing.
Try Saltwater Rinses
Dissolving about half a teaspoon of salt into lukewarm water and asking your kid to swish the solution in their mouths for about 30 seconds every time can help reduce the inflammation. The salt will help kill gingivitis bacteria, disinfecting the area and reducing the swelling. Repeat this a couple of times every day and teach your child to spit the solution instead of swallowing it.
Frequent Dental Cleanings
Specialists, such as Dr. Patterson, can help your kid maintain optimal dental health by performing frequent deep dental cleanings. Unfortunately, once plaque hardens into tartar, it’s almost impossible to remove it without specialized tools; furthermore, if the patients oral hygiene habits were already poor, you’ll need additional help to remove the damaging biofilm and material built up around your kids’ teeth.
How to Teach My Kid to Brush Their Teeth?
This is a question for the ages. The most direct answer is that you have to teach them by setting a good example. They’ll imitate what you do, and if you teach them the importance of a good oral hygiene routine, brushing their teeth frequently, using dental floss, and show that going to the dentist is a good thing, they’ll have a much better overall oral health.
Teaching children who grow bored of these repetitive activities can be a challenge, but we recommend singing a song, listening to a story, or playing some games for the minimum of two minutes per tooth brushing session to ensure all is good with their oral health.
Get Dentistry For Children in Aurora, CO
Get in touch with our office to learn much more about the required care for your kids’ dental health and all the ways in which you can help your kid live the best version possible of their lives through good dental care.
