It might seem that the Doctors at your children’s dental clinic in Aurora are very repetitive when they mention the importance of your child having a good oral hygiene routine. Maybe it’s even a bit overwhelming to hear all the brushing and flossing recommendations repeatedly. Still, at Epic Dentistry For Kids, we promise there is an important reason for this.
Cavities are permanently damaged areas of your teeth’s hard surface that develop into tiny openings or holes. Cavities, also known as tooth decay or caries, are caused by several factors, including bacteria in your mouth, frequent snacking, drinking sugary drinks, and failing to clean your teeth properly.
Cavities and tooth decay are among the most common health issues globally. They are especially prevalent in children, teenagers, and the elderly. Cavities, however, can affect anyone who has teeth, including infants.
Cavities grow larger and affect deeper layers of your teeth if they don’t receive proper treatment. They can cause severe tooth pain, infection, and tooth loss. Your best defense against cavities and tooth decay is regular dental visits and good brushing and flossing habits.
As you can see, it is crucial that, as parents, we understand the importance of oral health to pass along good oral habits to our children. If you don’t know where to start, just check out: What we should teach children about oral health at an early age.
What Is Pericoronitis?
Pericoronitis is an inflammation of the gums surrounding an erupting wisdom tooth which creates a kind of overhang of tissue where leftover food particles can remain hidden.
Child Pericoronitis Symptoms
Symptoms of pericoronitis in children may include swollen gum tissue that becomes painful and interferes with the ability to bite down. An adolescent with pericoronitis in a child may also notice a bad taste in his mouth or a foul odor.
There can be facial swelling or swollen lymph nodes in some advanced cases. Effective treatment to relieve symptoms may be as simple as a warm water rinse or an antibiotic prescription, but symptoms are likely to recur if the tooth doesn’t break through.
Causes of Pericoronitis
When wisdom teeth only partially erupt, pericoronitis can develop (break through the gum). An operculum is a soft tissue growth that forms over a partially erupted wisdom tooth. You might witness an operculum more simply as a gum flap over your child’s molar.
Furthermore, bacteria can become trapped beneath the operculum. This allows bacteria to enter the area around the tooth, causing infection and swelling.
Food debris, bacteria, or plaque, a bacterial film that remains on teeth after eating, can also become trapped beneath the gingiva, a gum flap surrounding a tooth. If it remains, it can irritate the gums and cause pericoronitis. The swelling and infection may spread to the cheeks and neck in severe cases.
Treatment and Prevention of Pericoronitis
The best way to prevent pericoronitis is by making a concerted effort to brush and floss daily and rinsing with warm salt water several times a day. But if the tooth still can’t erupt naturally, it may have to be extracted by a professional. If the infection is allowed to persist, it can spread to other parts of the mouth.
Wisdom Teeth and Pericoronitis
The wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last of the permanent teeth to come in and usually start to appear during the late adolescent years. Because they are located so far in the back of the mouth, the molars are harder to reach with a toothbrush or dental floss and are more prone to bacterial buildup.
Infection In Your Kids’ Wisdom Teeth
Infection of a third molar is fairly common. There is a good chance of our having at least one impacted molar. One theory is that since the human diet has evolved to consist of softer foods, there is less chewing required, leading to a deficiency of the jaw muscle. Moreover, since the molars are the last to break through the gums, the other teeth have already moved into place, and often, there is not enough room left. An obstructed molar that can’t fully erupt may become impacted.
The Importance Of A Pediatric Dentist
Bringing your child to a dentist is not very easy to do, considering that they have anxiety and fears about the treatments, the experience, and even the tools used. Children are hardly cooperative during their appointments, so they need a specialist who can be extremely patient with them, and that is your pediatric dentist. They use special techniques and tricks to make children feel comfortable and less worried during the procedure. They also use equipment designed for children so that they can effectively provide quality care to your child’s oral health.
If your child requires a pediatric dentist in Aurora, contact our Aurora Pediatric Dentist at Epic Dentistry for Kids at the first sign of pericoronitis in kids so that it can be treated and controlled asap.
