{"id":256,"date":"2024-10-10T17:32:17","date_gmt":"2024-10-10T17:32:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/?p=256"},"modified":"2024-11-14T17:34:46","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T17:34:46","slug":"common-oral-health-issues-for-children-with-special-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/2024\/10\/10\/common-oral-health-issues-for-children-with-special-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"Common Oral Health Issues for Children with Special Needs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Academy of Pediatric Dentistry defines special needs children as those with chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions. They usually have limitations on daily activities and require more extensive attention when it comes to their general wellness \u2013 and this includes caring for their smiles!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, children with disabilities or special needs<\/a> are more likely to develop dental problems, meaning it falls on you as a parent to pay particular attention to your child\u2019s oral hygiene. Here are some of the potential problems you might encounter and why seeking professional dental care for your little one is imperative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Abnormal Tooth Development<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Down syndrome and other genetic disorders can cause delays in tooth eruption, sometimes up to two years. Furthermore, these children may also develop malformed or extra teeth, or they may even have congenitally missing teeth. It also goes without saying that crowding and poor alignment are possibilities, as well as bruxism that leaves the enamel worn and the teeth flatter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oral Issues Stemming from Nutrition or Medications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tooth decay and gum disease can also result from a child\u2019s impaired immune system and connective tissue disorders. Many of the medications your child may be taking could also contain sugar or lead to dry mouth as a side effect, which only heightens the chances of cavities and decay. Additionally, if your child\u2019s diet is high in sugar or starches, their teeth are far more susceptible to oral health problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Difficulty with Home Care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also possible for children with special needs or certain physical limitations to lack the motor skills needed to properly care for their teeth and gums, which can equally contribute to plaque, tartar, and other problems. This means you\u2019ll have to help them, either by providing dental hygiene products that are gentle enough for them to tolerate (soft-bristled toothbrushes, kid-friendly flossers, etc.) or by assisting them with brushing correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dental experts recommend that children have their first dental visit by their first birthday, and this is especially crucial for children with special needs. By working closely with your child\u2019s dentist and ensuring that their smile is adequately cared for, many potential dental problems can be avoided entirely!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our team here at Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics has proudly served families in the New Britain, CT community for several years, offering a wide range of pediatric dental services for children of all ages, as well as children with special needs. If you have any questions about the blog or you\u2019d like to get in touch with our team to set up an appointment for your child, feel free to visit us online<\/a> or call us today for further information or assistance. Telephone: (860) 224-2419.   <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Academy of Pediatric Dentistry defines special needs children as those with chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions. They usually have limitations on daily activities and require more extensive attention when it comes to their general wellness \u2013 and this includes caring for their smiles! Unfortunately, children with disabilities or special needs are more […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=256"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":258,"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256\/revisions\/258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}