Dubai, UAE- Dental care is one of the first things that parents should teach their kids. Just as your little one enters toddlerhood, exploring and understanding their surroundings, and learning to take care of things, parents should encourage and help them take care of their teeth and mouth. Little children are fast learners and will remember to follow the dental routines, asking for your assistance to rinse their mouths, and brush and floss their teeth even when you may forget it in the midst of other things.

If you regularly overlook your child’s dental care, it could lead to cavities and bacterial infections in your little one’s mouth. Most parents are aware of cavities but very little is discussed about tooth and gum abscesses in kids. An abscess is a painful bacterial infection that affects the teeth and surrounding gums, requiring a trip to your kid’s dentist in Dubai.

“An abscessed tooth or gum is a dental emergency, and we urge parents to bring in their children for a consultation,” says Dr. Yasmin Kottait, one of the best Pediatric Dentists in Dubai, presently associated with myPediaclinic. “Most often, an abscessed tooth could be from food trapped deep in your child’s gum or from a mouth injury. If your child has poor oral hygiene and untreated cavities, it could also lead to an abscessed tooth.”

If your little one has an abscessed tooth, it forms a pocket of pus in the gum tissues around the affected tooth. Your child will experience a toothache, which is usually accompanied by visible swelling and redness in their gums. The pain could extend to their jaws, making it hard for your child to chew and eat his meals. An abscessed tooth also tends to turn darker than the rest of the teeth and can cause bad breath. In some cases, parents may also observe facial swelling or a fever.

If you notice that your child is in pain from an abscessed tooth or if they are able to communicate the same, do not hesitate to visit a children’s dentist near you at the earliest. A tooth abscess will not clear on its own and require medical attention.

A tooth abscess is treated by removing the infected tissue, which may require tooth extraction. If a child has severe swelling around the abscess, Pediatric Dentists first prescribe antibiotics to reduce the swelling and keep the infection under control before proceeding with tooth extraction.

“Timely consultation and diagnosis are vital for treating tooth and gum abscesses,” continues Dr. Yasmin. “Early detection will help save your little one’s tooth without the need for extraction.”

To ensure that your little one doesn’t develop tooth abscess, here is what you can do-

Brush your child’s teeth twice a day, spending at least two minutes each time. Parents must brush their children’s teeth until they are old and independent enough to do it on their own. Even so, it’s recommended that you supervise your child’s brushing until the age of 12 to ensure that they are doing it well.
You should also help your child floss or use an interdental brush at least once a day. This helps to clean between their teeth and also keep their gum line clean.
Pediatric dentists recommend a fluoride toothpaste for children. After brushing their teeth, children can spit out the excess toothpaste. However, it’s advised not to rinse the mouth after brushing to allow the fluoride to work on the teeth and provide protection.
Monitor your little one’s sugar intake. Children shouldn’t be snacking on sugary and starchy foods and drinks throughout the day as the residues can pave way for cavities and abscess. Ensure that any sweet they eat is during meal times, after which they rinse their mouth completely to wash off the residues.
Take your child for their regular dental appointments without delays. Regular checkups will help keep their teeth strong and healthy, thereby aiding their overall development.

Practicing good oral habits and taking your child to their regular dental appointments is the best way to keep infections away and maintain healthy and strong teeth. Reach out to Dr. Yasmin Kottait for an appointment today.

About Dr. Yasmin Kottait: Having dedicated 16 years of her career to spreading smiles and imparting knowledge of oral hygiene to children, Dr. Yasmin is a renowned name and face in the field of pediatric dentistry in Dubai. Her joyful personality and magical kid-whispering powers make dental appointments for kids an easy sail – and lots of fun, that they never miss a single dental appointment with her! Dr. Yasmin is also one of the few Autism friendly dentists in the region, with a diploma in Cognitive Based Hypnotherapy and IBCCES Autism certification.