What are kids’ teeth issues?

Kids’ teeth issues might include:

• enamel hypomineralisation
• injuries to the teeth and mouth
• mouth guards
• teeth-grinding
• thumb-sucking
• tooth decay.

Enamel hypomineralisation

Enamel hypomineralisation is when the outer surfaces of teeth have fewer minerals than usual. As a result, teeth are weak and might break down.

Teeth with enamel hypomineralisation have white, yellow or brown patches. They might also be sensitive to cold and brushing.

Enamel hypomineralisation is most likely to affect the first adult molar teeth. Baby teeth and front teeth aren’t often affected.

If you think your child has enamel hypomineralisation, it’s important for them to see a dentist as soon as possible. Early treatment can help to stop your child’s teeth from breaking down even more.

Injuries to teeth

Injuries to your child’s face and teeth can happen when your child is walking, running, climbing, riding scooters and bikes and so on.

It’s important to take your child to a dentist or a hospital emergency department if your child damages their teeth or face, especially if a tooth is bumped, broken or moved out of its usual position.

Knocking out a baby tooth

If your child knocks out a baby tooth or their tooth moves out of its usual position, don’t try to put it back, because this can damage the adult tooth that’s developing under the gum.

Losing a baby tooth before it’s ready to come out usually isn’t a serious dental problem, but it’s important that you take your child to the dentist immediately. Take the knocked-out tooth too.

The dentist can reassure you and your child that an adult tooth will eventually fill the space and that pain or tenderness in the area will soon go.

Knocking out an adult tooth

There are things you and your child can do that might stop your child from losing the tooth permanently:

• Find the tooth.
• Hold the tooth by the top (‘crown’), not the roots.
• If the tooth is dirty, rinse it in milk for a few seconds. If you don’t have any milk, you can briefly rinse the tooth with water.
• Don’t let the tooth dry out.
• Put the tooth back in its socket immediately.
• Hold the tooth in place with aluminium foil. If you don’t have any aluminium foil handy, your child can bite down gently on a clean cloth – for example, a handkerchief.
• Take your child to the dentist or a hospital emergency department immediately. Time is critical.

If for some reason you can’t replace the tooth in its socket – for example, your child is unconscious or distressed – put the tooth in milk or saliva. Go to your dentist or a hospital emergency department immediately.

If your child chips or fractures a tooth, keep the piece of tooth and store it in milk or saliva. See your dentist immediately.

Mouth guards

If your child plays sport, check the sport’s rules and recommendations about mouth guards. In many junior sports with a high risk of face contact or head injury, wearing a mouth guard or other protective equipment is compulsory during training sessions and match play.

There are 3 types of mouth guards:

• ready-made
• ‘boil and bite’, which you mould around your child’s teeth and jawbone
• customised, which are made by a dental professional.

Customised mouth guards are the most comfortable and provide the best protection because they’re made specially to fit your child’s teeth and jaws.

Mouth guards should:

• be thick enough (4 mm) to provide protection against impact
• fit snugly and be comfortable
• be odourless and tasteless
• allow normal breathing and swallowing
• allow normal speech.

To help your child’s mouth guard stay clean and in good shape, you can make sure your child:

• rinses it before each use, and brushes it with a non-abrasive toothpaste afterwards
• cleans it every now and then in soapy water, making sure to rinse it thoroughly
• carries it in a container that has vents
• doesn’t leave it in the sun or in hot water.

Take the mouth guard to your child’s dental visits to make sure it still fits correctly. Your child might need a new mouth guard when changes happen in their mouth – for example, when adult teeth come through.

Teeth-grinding

Teeth-grinding in school-age children is common and doesn’t usually need treatment.

Some children clench their jaws quite firmly, and others grind their teeth so hard that it makes a noise. Some children grind their teeth during sleep. Often, they don’t wake up when they do it – but other people do!

Most of the time, teeth-grinding doesn’t last and doesn’t cause damage to your child’s teeth. But if it keeps going, you might want to talk to a dentist or GP. It could lead to your child experiencing headaches and tooth or jaw pain or wearing down their teeth.

Thumb-sucking

Most children grow out of the habit of sucking thumbs and fingers between 2 and 4 years.

Sucking that goes on over many years can affect the growth of a child’s jaws and the way their teeth line up. You can usually reverse the effects of thumb-sucking up to 6-7 years, when adult teeth start to come through. If children keep thumb-sucking after this age, it might cause permanent dental problems.

If your child is still thumb-sucking or finger-sucking, here are ideas for encouraging your child to stop:

• Talk with your child about stopping thumb-sucking. For example, ‘It’s good to keep your thumb out of your mouth. This helps your teeth grow well, and you can do other things with your hands!’
• Find ways to distract your child from thumb-sucking. For example, you could encourage your child to play with a toy or do another activity like drawing or a puzzle.
• Praise your child. For example, ‘That’s great. I can hear your words clearly when your thumb isn’t in your mouth’.
• Use a reward chart. For example, you could give your child a sticker or token each time you see that they aren’t sucking their thumb or fingers.
• Talk to a pharmacist about options like paint-on solution.

If you’re concerned that your child’s sucking habits are causing dental problems, talk to your dentist.

Children are more likely to suck their thumbs or fingers when they’re tired, stressed, hungry or sleeping.

Tooth decay in school-age-children

Tooth decay is a diet-related disease that damages teeth.

Signs of tooth decay include white patches or brown spots on teeth, holes in teeth or broken teeth.

You can prevent tooth decay in your child by taking 3 key steps:

• Clean your child’s teeth and gums twice a day – in the morning and at night.
• Offer your child a healthy, low-sugar diet and encourage healthy eating habits.
• Care for your child’s dental health by taking them for regular dental check-ups.