Periodontal Disease & Your Child

You may think that periodontal disease can only impact adults, but unfortunately this is not the case. Your child, if they do not have proper and healthy brushing and flossing habits, may experience multiple negative side effects including periodontal disease. And sometimes, even with the best home care, periodontal disease rears its ugly head due to genetics.

Dr. Fuller recommends that your child brush and floss after consuming foods.  Foods that stick to the gums and stay provide more opportunity for bacteria to cause havoc in the mouth. Bacteria turns to plaque, which gets below the gum line to cause periodontal disease.

Once your child’s gums are inflamed and bleeding when they brush or floss, an examination by your child’s pediatric dentist is the only way to determine what level of care is needed to get their oral health back on track.

Left untreated periodontal disease can begin to not only impact their smile, but also impact their entire body. They may become tired, and unwillingly to participate in activities. Your child’s gums may be swollen, bleeding and appear darker in color.  Once this happens they may begin to experience pain and need a more intensive procedure in order to get the periodontal disease under control.  Dr. Fuller recommends scheduling an appointment with your child’s dentist if you see any bleeding when they are flossing or brushing. This trip to the dentist can decrease the need for more expensive and labor-intensive support.

For more information contact Dr. Fuller & his team today.