Kids can be vocal about wounds and scrapes (they’ll tell you they have phantom boo-boos to get a band aid) but they hardly ever speak up about toothaches, or anything in their mouth that is painful. We make it a point to make our office a pleasant place to visit, but sometimes we find that children may not report tooth problems to parents out of a fear of having to take a trip to the dentist.
But there are certain problems that are best diagnosed and treated as early as possible. We recommend that you talk to your kids about these dental symptoms. Explain that they should tell you immediately so you can help them resolve the problem before it gets worse.
Wounds/sores that won’t heal
Kids bounce back fast. With proper dental hygiene, accidentally biting their cheek and even painful canker sores shouldn’t take more than a few days to heal.
But if they have wounds or a sore in the mouth lasting more than two weeks, it’s time to talk to your dentist to find out what’s going on that won’t let it heal. It is imperative that your pediatric dentist has an opportunity to diagnose something early before it becomes something more problematic.
We have to keep in mind that wounds/sores can take longer to heal for children with diabetes, however. Other symptoms to watch out for are numbness, swelling, ear pain, trouble swallowing/ moving the tongue, hoarseness. These can be signs of more serious issues that require immediate attention.
Temperature sensitivity
This can be caused by new dental work, a broken or worn down filling, gum recession, or an active cavity that is allowing hot or cold temperatures to approach closer to the nerves inside the teeth.
It could also be a cracked tooth, or an abscess, a bacterial infection in the gums or near the tooth root. Both are dental emergencies and can spread to the head and neck area. This can compromise breathing under certain circumstances.
Bleeding gums
Healthy gums just don’t bleed. Bleeding means your child might be brushing too aggressively, or needs to go to the dentist for a cleaning to remove bacteria irritating his/her gums that can’t be removed by brushing and flossing alone. Bleeding gums are a common sign associated with gingivitis and the early stages of periodontal (gum) disease. So, addressing this head on is key to long term health and well being for the teeth and gums.
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan have specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly and newly renovated office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. Our pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults and are proud to be Premier Providers of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen services. The ability to treat all patients with compassion and individuality, including those that may have special needs reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy and customized care options. We pioneered valued hospital affiliations to allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John Macomb Hospital, when appropriate or necessary, and our specialists are also proud to be on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.
