“Is That Normal?!” – Common Pediatric Oral Health Concerns

As much as you know your child, there always seem to be more questions. Why don’t kids come with an instruction manual? At least you know that when it comes to your little one’s oral health, you can turn to our pediatric dental office in Spring. We are always ready to answer any questions you might have.

Here are a few of the most common questions we get from concerned parents:

“My child has bad breath almost every day. Shouldn’t little kids have sweet  breath?” 

Morning breath is normal for both adults and children, but if it lingers after brushing and flossing, something more is going on. Here are some tips:

• Start monitoring their oral hygiene technique. It could be that food particles are lingering. 
• Monitor their sleep to see if they are breathing through the mouth or the nose. Mouth breathing dries the mucous membranes and the saliva can’t do its job of flushing out bacteria and remineralizing teeth. Some medications and thumb sucking can also dry out the mouth. If dry mouth seems to be an issue, talk to us. 
• Make sure they are drinking enough water to stimulate and increase healthful saliva production. 
• Encourage brushing after meals and snacks. 

Chronic bad breath could even be a sign of gum disease, so it’s important kids get checked by their Spring pediatric dentist. 

“Will the white spots on my child’s teeth go away?”

White spots in your child’s enamel are known as Fluorosis and are caused by an overconsumption of Fluoride. This usually happens when water is fluoridated and your child also takes fluoride supplements or swallows fluoridated toothpaste. Unfortunately, the spots are permanent. If they bother your child as he or she gets older, they can consult with a dentist about cosmetic dentistry options to cover the spots. In the meantime, take preventive measures by only applying a small smear or pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the toothbrush and encouraging spitting rather than swallowing after brushing. 

“My neighbor’s daughter just had a frenectomy. What is that, and does my child need one too?”

Everyone has a frenulum, a ridge of connective tissue under your tongue and between your lips and gums. If the ridge is too tight or pulling, it can cause all kinds of problems from a simple gap between teeth to pain and speech difficulties. This tightness and pulling is easily solved with a frenectomy, a simple clipping or removal of the cord, usually performed with a soft-tissue laser for optimal healing and minimal pain. If your child has difficulty speaking or complains about pain in that area, come talk to us. 

More questions? Call the dental team at our Spring pediatric dental offices. We love to answer questions from our patients and parents. 

About The Author

Dr. Leslie Blackburn

Dr. Leslie Blackburn always knew she wanted to work with children and decided to pursue a career in pediatric dentistry. She enrolled at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, where she received her Doctorate of Dental Surgery and Master of Science in Dental Education. She finished the last leg of her education at Yale University, where she obtained her certificate in Pediatric Dentistry.

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