Parents face a dilemma quite often as to when they should be taking their kids to the dentist in Dubai. Should you wait for the time till all of their teeth come out? Or you should take them to a dentist only when you feel there’s an issue with their oral health? When is the right time to start with the regular visits even?

As per the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, you should be taking your child to a dentist soon after they get their first tooth out.

Remember the fact that your child’s dental health is important for their overall physical health. So, make sure that you are adopting the practice of regular checkups every six months of your child with their dentist. 

Signs You Need to Take Your Child to a Dental Clinic

Listed below are some of the instances when you should be taking your child to a dentist:

Bleeding, Irritated, or Swollen Gums

Bleeding gums indicate inflammation. And, inflammation can lead to serious periodontal issues. Sometimes, gums hurt after brushing or bleed. As for swollen gums, they are caused by the buildup of plaque that leads to tooth loss. Irritated gums are a common sign of gingivitis or some other health care concerns.

Bad Breath

Sometimes, an issue of bad breath does not go away no matter how many times you brush your teeth. Usually, bad breath indicates a serious issue like gum disease. So, if your child has this issue, it’s best that you book an appointment with the best dentist in Dubai. They can help in getting the root of the problem.

Loose/Wiggly Teeth

With age, as children grow, baby teeth start to fall out and permanent teeth erupt. The process of losing baby teeth is a part of a child’s growing up. This occurs between 6 years old to 12 years old. However, if permanent teeth become loose or wiggly, or occur some kind of trauma, you should get an appointment with your child’s dentist both to assess and examine the problem quickly.

Toothache

If your child is suffering from tooth or mouth pain, schedule a dentist appointment at your earliest. Tooth pain can start at any time and cause a lot of disruption. Even if the pain goes away, the original cause of the pain might remain that needs to be diagnosed. When any part of the body is in pain, it is the body’s way of communicating that there is something wrong with the body that needs to be addressed and treated.

Tooth Loss

Children have to deal with various dental issues, and many of them are similar to adult dental issues. One of them is tooth loss. Usually, the common missing permanent teeth are upper lateral incisors and lower first molars. The best alternative to replace missing teeth is dental implants. However, they might not be suitable for children as the bone needs to be dense and strong for the initial healing and durability of dental implants.

Since a child’s jaw bone is not mature, it cannot handle such a procedure. Young bones are still growing and developing and continue to grow till 16-18 years of age. A child of 11-12 years is still growing and the bone is still soft. It can be shaped easily, which makes braces an easier option. Later teenage years or early 20s are more suitable to get dental implants. In case the missing tooth is causing chewing problems or hindering speech, the child could go for a removable tooth replacement. Some of them are:

Bridge

A bridge usually looks and functions better than a removable denture. You can choose from a resin-bonded bridge or a tooth-supported fixed bridge.

Braces

An artificial tooth is attached to an orthodontic wire for filling the gap that is left by the missing tooth. The brace also corrects the bite and crooked teeth issues.

Removal Partial Denture

One or more artificial teeth are attached to the wire in a removable partial denture.

Space Maintainers

If your child suffered an accident and knocked out a baby tooth, a permanent tooth shall eventually grow in its place. However, you can get a space maintainer to ensure proper growth. There are both fixed and removable maintainers available that depend on your child’s situation.

Sensitive Teeth

If cold or hot food items and drinks are causing your child to have dental pain or discomfort, it is a warning sign that your child might be getting a cavity.

White/Brown Spots on Teeth

The appearance of white or chalky spots on your child’s teeth indicates the development of a cavity. White spots can be a sign of extreme enamel decay. If you see their emergence, get an appointment at a dental clinic in Dubai as soon as possible.

Also, in case a tooth is turning black or brown or happens to have broken fragments, this requires immediate attention.Tooth decay progresses at a fast pace, so if you see any discoloration, schedule an appointment at your earliest so the dentist can examine your child’s teeth.

Final Thoughts

In a nutshell, it is important that you take your child to a dentist in Dubai right after their first tooth appears or by their first birthday at least. The dentist shall examine the oral structures in the child’s mouth and discuss the best practices for oral hygiene and diet as they grow up.

Also, going for routine checkups helps the child become accustomed to the idea of seeing a dentist and develop the habit of getting examined.

As stated above, to ensure early diagnosis of cavities or gum disease along with any other oral health condition, get your child examined every six months. Furthermore, proper diet, care, and hygiene habits at a young age go a long way in having healthy teeth and gums.

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