How to Determine and Treat Gingivitis in Children?

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In children, gingivitis is more common than in adults due to the functional immaturity of the gums and other physiological features. First, the child's immune system is just being formed and cannot protect them from many diseases. Second, at a younger age, the eruption of baby teeth occurs, and in adolescence, molars occur. In addition, many do not know how to brush their teeth well, and then plaque accumulates on them and creates a favorable environment for the development of bacteria.

Risk factors are also:

- Infection in the mouth when licking toys or other things.

- Gum damage or burns,

- Untreated tooth.

- Malocclusion and crowding of teeth.

- Deposition of plaque and tartar.

- Food allergy.

- Diseases of ENT organs, SARS, influenza.

- Gastritis.

- Hormonal imbalance.

- Vitamin deficiency.

- Metabolic disorders.

Gingivitis can be both a primary disease and a complication. In children, it often develops due to a common cold, sinusitis, otitis media, or another disease.

Symptoms of Gingivitis in Children

The main symptoms of gingivitis are:

- Redness and swelling of the gums.

- Bleeding when brushing teeth and chewing food.

- Pain when touching and biting off solid foods.

- White or gray plaque on the teeth.

- Bad breath.

The severity of symptoms may vary depending on the size of the affected gum area and the stage of gingivitis. Earliest clinical sign of gingivitis may be a complaint of severe pain, while in others there can be only periodic bleeding. Young children may refuse to feed, cry more often and act up.

Types of Gingivitis in Children

Most often, children develop acute gingivitis. A sharp onset of symptoms accompanies it and causes severe discomfort, but responds well to treatment.

If you do not see a doctor in time, the disease can become chronic. It is characterized by a decrease in pain, bleeding, and other symptoms, which many parents mistake for recovery. But inflammation continues in a sluggish form, and with the appearance of provoking factors, it worsens.

There are also several types of gingivitis according to the nature of the symptoms and the effect on the gum tissue:

- Catarrhal gingivitis is manifested by bleeding gums when brushing teeth, mild pain, and itching. It is considered the initial stage of the disease.

- Ulcerative gingivitis is accompanied by the appearance of small wounds that often bleed and the death of the affected tissues. As a result, gray plaque accumulates on the teeth, and bad breath appears. Occasionally, the disease is accompanied by fever.

- Hypertrophic gingivitis, in addition to swelling, soreness, and bleeding of the gums, is also accompanied by the growth of gum tissues, as a result of which it rises and covers part of the crown of the tooth.

- Atrophic gingivitis, on the contrary, is manifested by a decrease in the level of the gums and the opening of the neck of the tooth. As a result, the child becomes more sensitive to cold, hot, sweet, and sour food and drinks.

- Desquamative gingivitis is manifested by severe reddening of the gums, the formation of vesicles and ulcers, as well as a pronounced rejection of the upper layer of the epithelium.

Only an experienced dentist can determine the form of the disease and prescribe the correct treatment for the child.

Most often, children are diagnosed with catarrhal gingivitis. It is considered the mildest form of the disease and responds well to therapy. However, you should not refuse to see a doctor. If the disease is not completely cured, it can go to the next stage or become chronic.

Treatment of Gingivitis in Children

Treatment of gingivitis in children With gingivitis, complex therapy is recommended. It is important not only to relieve inflammation and remove the symptoms that bother the child but also to eliminate the infection and the conditions for its re-development.

Depending on the form of the disease, the dentist may prescribe the following:

- Professional teeth cleaning to remove plaque and tartar, which are a breeding ground for bacteria.

- Rinsing with antiseptic preparations.

- Applying medicinal ointments to the gums.

- Cleaning gums with an irrigator.

- Taking antibacterial, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamin complexes, etc.