How to Treat Bleeding Gums in Toddlers?

It is common that, from the moment we become parents, many concerns arise related to the care of infants. However, when it comes to dental health, parents must make decisions when children are babies and begin developing their teeth. This is so they can be treated early and minimize potential future problems.

Some of the most frequent concerns parents have included, for example, the age at which they should start brushing their children’s teeth. When is the right time to start brushing my children’s teeth? And, how should I help my kids with oral hygiene?

In response to these concerns, we highly recommend assisting your child with oral hygiene early since it helps the infant familiarize with buccal sanitation routines. In the case of babies, we also recommend cleaning them by wrapping the index finger in a clean gauze moistened with water and rubbing the child’s gums and tongue.

Another concern parents have is when to visit the pediatric dentist for the first time. We recommend that the first visit with the infant occurs before the first birthday, precisely at the time when the first tooth appears.

A suggestion is to schedule visits to the pediatric dentist every six months. Parents must attend visits to clear up any concerns and learn about their child’s dental health care.

We know that, at an early age, children love to eat sweets and do not necessarily have a habit of cleaning their teeth after meals. With this precedent, a common concern among parents is how to prevent the development of cavities in their children.

First, good nutrition is essential in the development of children and is related to their dental health. A good diet provides vitamins, minerals, phosphorus, calcium, and fluoride, which helps make teeth resistant and robust against cavities.

Conversely, when children eat foods with high levels of sugar, the bacteria in the mouth feed from this substance metabolize it and produce acids that destroy hard tissues (enamel).

This predisposes children to suffer from cavities in their teeth. For this reason, it is crucial to know how to responsibly administer sweets to children and even teach them to brush their teeth after each meal.

Why Are My Toddlers Gums Bleeding?

Gingivitis is common in children, causing the gums to be inflamed, red, and bleed easily. In addition, gingivitis not treated in time might cause periodontitis, which occurs when the gums move away from the teeth and form spaces that become infected.

Gingivitis is associated with hygienic factors, excessive intake of fermentable carbohydrates, and a bland diet that facilitates the formation of bacterial plaque. Consequently, diet is an influential factor causing gingivitis.

Bacteria found in plaque destroy the sugary residues left or not removed food that remains in the mouth. As a result, these foods, especially sugary and starchy foods, become acids affecting the teeth and gums.

An important fact is that both plaque and bacteria begin to accumulate within twenty minutes after eating foods, which is the time when the most significant bacterial activity occurs in the mouth.

Consequently, if your child’s gums bleed, revise the types of foods your kid is ingesting and review the step-by-step oral hygiene process; after this, bleeding should recede. However, if you keep concerned and bleeding in the gums persists, you need to contact a pediatric dentist for a checkup immediately.

How to Stop My Toddlers’ Gums From Bleeding?

It is essential to have good dental cleaning habits as a first step to stopping bleeding gums. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, toothpaste and floss will also help remove bacterial plaque from the gums.

We remark that we highly recommend parents visit the pediatric dentist in Roanoke at least twice a year to detect any condition and provide appropriate treatment for toddlers. Meanwhile, home remedies such as warm salt water mouthwashes can help reduce and relieve the inflammation of easily bleeding gums.

The intake of beverages such as green tea helps prevent bleeding gums as it has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that help prevent gum inflammation.