Bleeding gums in toddlers shouldn’t be a reason for panic, but they should not be ignored. As a family dentist in Fort Myers, FL, we pay close attention to every detail of your child’s teeth, yet the gums are often overlooked. If your toddler’s gums are bleeding, it might indicate a more serious condition. Several variables might cause child gum bleeding; some are significant, while others are not. In this article, our objective is to talk about reasons for gum bleeding in toddlers and to help you understand why this is occurring, how to prevent it, and how to avoid it in the future.
Dental Emergencies
A dental emergency or trauma is likely one of the most common reasons for bleeding gums, especially in children. Anything from a hard fall to a sports injury might be called oral trauma. Bleeding from this sort of event should subside or cease within 10 minutes. If not, make an appointment with your pediatric dentist as soon as possible. In the interim, rinse your child’s mouth with salt water, gently apply gauze to help stop the bleeding, and use cold packs to relieve swelling.
High Sugar Diet
A high-sugar diet includes not just candy, soda, and cookies, but also fruits, granola bars, juice, bread, and chips! Anything heavy in carbohydrates will degrade into sugars in the mouth, perhaps leading to plaque.
Dry mouth and Gums
To avoid drying out the tongue and gums, your child must drink plenty of water each day to stay hydrated. Your toddler’s dry mouth might be caused by mouth breathing, a short upper lip, an orthodontic problem, or enlarged tonsils or adenoids. Dry mouth can cause inflammation and irritation of gum tissue, which could trigger bleeding.
Gum Disease
Gum disease is one possible cause of your child’s bleeding gums. Gum disease occurs when the teeth and gums get infected with germs, which is commonly caused by poor dental hygiene. When we do not brush and floss regularly, germs can become trapped between teeth and create irritation, causing our gums to bleed readily.
How Can You Prevent Gum Bleeding in Your Child?
Pay close attention to your child’s brushing habits and inspect their toothbrushes for excessive wear and tear. Allow children to pick their toothbrush to add interest to their oral care regimen. Take them for routine dental checks as prescribed by your pediatric dentist.
