Parental dental tips

When it comes to a child's teeth, there are a lot of changes which happen in the first decade of their life. Baby teeth grow in, baby teeth fall out and then the adult teeth appear. When a child's dental progress presents something unusual, though, then a parent's concern level tends to rise. As a parent who has noticed their child's gums are bleeding on a weekly basis, you might be uncertain whether to visit the family dentist or to just wait and see what develops. Because gum bleeding in children can occur due to several different conditions, it is important you educate yourself on what those causes are so you can get the issue addressed sooner rather than later. Here are three possible reasons behind your child's bleeding gum issue.

Diseased Gums

The most serious of the possible gum bleeding causes is gum disease. Gum disease is caused when plaque builds up on the teeth. The plaque comes from bacteria which feast on food scraps left behind in the mouth. These scraps should be removed with regular brushing and flossing, but if those tasks are not performed correctly, then bacteria are left behind. Other signs of gum disease include gums which are red, swollen or tender. Gum disease needs the attention of your family dentist, so do not delay in booking an appointment to tend to this.

New Toothbrush

If you know your child is fastidious with their teeth cleaning, then turn your mind towards whether there has been any change in their routine. For example, have you bought a new toothbrush recently? Because a child's gum is young and developing as they grow, it does not take much to damage the tissue. If you have purchased a new toothbrush, there is a possibility the bristles are too firm for their little mouth. Switch to a soft-bristled brush to see if the bleeding stops.

Medication Changes

Medication is another factor to consider when looking for causes of bleeding gums. A seizure medication called Phenytoin, for example, is just one prescription drug which has swollen gums as a side effect. While the gum is swollen and sensitive, brushing can cause the tissue to bleed. In this instance, discuss the medication and the resulting side effect with your dentist to see what can be done to reduce its effects.

Based on the information above, you can now decide when to take your child to the dentist to discuss their bleeding gum problem.