How To Spot Dental Issues In A Young Child

Younger children can't always articulate well enough to let you know what is bothering them. Even young preschool age children that are fully verbal may have trouble letting you know that it is a tooth causing their distress, in part because dental pain is sometimes hard to pinpoint. The following guide can help you spot the signs of dental issues in your young child so you can promptly seek care from a pediatric dental clinic.

Ear pain complaints

Sometimes tooth pain, particularly in the molars, presents as a minor earache. Your child may complain about an intermittent earache or a younger child may tug on their ears. Babies and very young children, in particular, may show signs of ear discomfort in conjunction with excessive drooling. Your first task is to have an ear infection ruled out by your pediatrician. If aural health is clean, then a visit to a dentist to have the molars checked is in order.

Favoring of one side

Watch your child as they eat. If they tend to avoid chewing on one side, or if they wince or present other signs of discomfort before switching over to the other side of the mouth to chew, a problem tooth could be the culprit. Children that still use a bottle may fuss or refuse to let the bottle come in contact with one side of their mouth. They may also have trouble maintain suction on the bottle or have latching on difficulties if they breast feed. A dental checkup can rule out tooth problems when it comes to eating issues such as those listed here.

Flavor complaints

Tooth infections can lead to foul, bitter flavors in the mouth. Your child may complain that their food tastes bad or a non-verbal child may suddenly begin refusing to eat former favorite foods. Often, you will also notice bad breath on your child if an infection is the cause. Although many things can affect a child's appetite, ruling out a tooth infection is important if there is an abrupt change.

Unexplained swelling or tenderness

Infections and abscesses usually result in swelling, but the swelling may not always be at the affected tooth. You may notice that your child's cheeks look lopsided if the swelling occurs along the gum line. Often, swelling occurs at a lymph node, typically one behind the ear or along the neck, when a child has a tooth infection. Fever may also be present, particularly in young children.

Often, the tooth issue is teething related and time will solve the issue. If you aren't sure, though, the best option is to contact a pediatric dentist for an evaluation.

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