Gum disease is an occasion to see a doctor, study the problem and deal with the rules for treating ailment such as red inflamed gums in a child. The following article will help you with this. It contains information about the causes, treatment tactics and tips for preventing the disease.
Primary inflammation of the oral mucosa is called gingivitis in medicine, ignoring which subsequently provokes periodontitis, followed by destruction of soft tissues and, as a result, the formation of a malocclusion, problems with the development of both milk and permanent teeth.
Oral Health Monitoring
First of all, it is necessary to constantly monitor and observe the hygiene of the baby's oral cavity from the first days of life. Since up to a year the child is closely physically connected with the mother, then she should not forget about personal hygiene of the body. Control the cleanliness and quality of everything that gets into your child’s mouth.
Do not forget that one of the reasons why a child becomes red gums may be teething. This fact should only sharpen your attention and strengthen measures. Weak immunity and an increased risk of contracting any infection can only aggravate the baby's oral cavity.
Watch your baby’s diet. Problems with the structure of tissues largely depend on the quality of nutrition, and therefore, make sure that your child receives all the necessary vitamins and minerals.
The main task of parents is to consciously and competently monitor the health of their baby. And therefore, if you notice that the child’s gums are red and swollen, and his general state of health and behavior is different from usual, immediately take measures. And in the near future, consult a doctor.
Why does the child have red gums?
Gum redness is a very common childhood illness that has a ton of causes. The most harmless reason why your baby feels discomfort in the oral cavity is teething of the first milk teeth. This is a natural and mandatory physiological process in the life of every person, which begins at the age of about 6 months from birth and normally ends by 3 years.
Therefore, if you notice red upper gums in a child or inflammation from below, and at the same time have noted increased salivation, decreased appetite, causeless crying and fever, you should not panic and heal the oral cavity from a nonexistent disease. Teething and, as a consequence, gum disease - this is the only moment that does not require a pediatrician’s consultation, of course, if everything goes without any significant complications.
The cause of redness can be mechanical damage to the gums, so it is important to monitor the behavior of the child and what gets into his mouth. This precaution can save you not only problems with the gums, but also possible damage to the organs of the gastrointestinal tract. Indeed, if a child swallows some foreign object, serious consequences can arise.
Allergic reactions are another reason for the change in the structure and color of the baby’s gums. An imbalance in the diet or just a product that is not suitable for your child can cause allergies and manifest as inflammation not only on the gums, but also on other mucous membranes in the body.
Do not forget about chronic diseases, for example, diabetes mellitus, problems with the gastrointestinal tract and the cardiovascular system, which also causes gum redness.
Adult causes of gum disease
Hormonal failure and consequences in the form of inflamed gums is associated with the restructuring of the body. A similar cause of redness is typical for adolescents 11-15 years old, since it is at this age that the organization of the body completely changes in children.
The factors that cause gum inflammation at an older age include the malformed occlusion during tooth growth. Compaction or deformation of the jaw provokes an increase in pressure on the gums, which causes them to swell.
Analyzing all the reasons why a parent can observe a child’s red gums, one can notice that the overall indicator is the baby’s weak immunity. Mild colds, seasonal vitamin deficiencies and non-compliance with hygiene rules are a number of factors that constantly entail health problems in the mucous membranes of the body.
Pathologies causing gum disease
In addition to the general causes of redness on children's gums, it is necessary to say about the pathological conditions that provoke this problem, which are serious deviations from the norm in human health.
Among these distinguish:
- gingivitis;
- periodontitis;
- periodontal disease;
- stomatitis.
Gingivitis as a cause of reddening of children's gums
Gingivitis is a disease that occurs in almost every child. However, it is worth noting that it can be stopped until the moment when the inflammatory process acquires an infectious nature and begins to destroy the tissues and other mucous membranes of the body. In the children's body, gingivitis occurs due to teething. In the processes of the passage of the first tooth through the soft tissues, their destruction occurs, which leads to inflammation. In such cases, you can notice that a red cone has formed on the gum of the child, which in just a few days will be transformed into a small white tubercle. It is from him that a little tooth is shown.
Gingivitis is characterized only by inflammation of the interdental part of the mucosa and mucous membranes of the gums, which, with proper care, can be easily blocked, and also prevent the transition of inflammation into more complex forms.
Timely visits to the periodontist and compliance with all its recommendations will help to avoid complications and the development of the disease. The only thing that can be noted even at the level of theory is that the choice, quality and cleanliness of teething toys must be approached extremely responsibly and competently.
Periodontitis
The next disease after gingivitis, due to which red gums can be observed in a child, is periodontitis. Unfortunately, this is already a much more dangerous and complex form of edema, which, in addition to inflammation on the gum, is characterized by the presence of tartar, the formation of a pathological gingival pocket and resorption of bone height.
Periodontitis affects children at an older age than gingivitis. However, the consequences of the disease are many times worse. Periodontitis threatens the loss of teeth and the destruction of all periodontal tissues.
The cause of this pathological process is primarily surface cleansing of the teeth, which leads to the formation of tartar and the accumulation of bacteria. And therefore, if you notice red gums in the child and the smell of rot from the mouth, then you should immediately contact a specialist to solve this problem in the early stages of its manifestation.
The larger prerequisites for the occurrence of periodontitis include deformity of the frenum in the mouth, mechanical damage to the oral cavity and deformation of the jaw, which most often entails surgical intervention.
In any case, periodontitis is a pathology that cannot be cured at home, and therefore you should urgently consult a doctor.
Periodontal disease
Periodontal disease is considered the final stage of gum disease. It is faced by people who are negligent in their health and do not monitor the condition of the mucous membranes. This is a neglected gum disease, which, along with related factors, led to the complete destruction of tissues and bones.
The pronounced sensitivity of the teeth to temperature changes, root exposures, bleeding gums and neglected tartar are the symptoms that a patient experiences with insufficient oral hygiene and neglected gingivitis once in childhood.
That is why all dentists recommend a timely visit to the dentist’s office and proper oral care, as once reddened gums that do not cause discomfort can lead to serious complications, including tooth loss.
Stomatitis as a cause of gum disease in a baby
Along with gingivitis, stomatitis is a common cause of gum redness in a child. In medicine, it is interpreted as inflammation of the oral mucosa, having a fungal or viral nature. Stomatitis manifests itself in the form of small suppurable whitish wounds throughout the baby's mouth, and with progression, the wounds become covered with plaque.
Stomatitis is often a childhood disease, and therefore red gums in a child at 2 years old can be explained by the occurrence of this particular disease. Fortunately, to date, pharmacists and doctors have invented a lot of ointments and drugs that heal these wounds. You can use them provided that the nature of the occurrence of ulcers is identified.
Remember that purulent wounds on the mucosa are just a consequence of the appearance of an infection in the body, and therefore if the child has red gums and the temperature, which as a concomitant symptom, ranges up to 38 degrees, then a full course of treatment should be taken to eliminate the cause of stomatitis .
Symptoms associated with gum redness
The trouble does not come alone, as they say. That is why it is stupid to talk only about reddening of the gums. This process never proceeds on its own. Having diagnosed red gums in a child, one can also note:
- unpleasant rotten smell from the baby's mouth;
- visible tissue destruction;
- bleeding at the roots;
- lethargy and drowsiness;
- changes in the behavior of the child, loss of appetite and so on.
Among the more unpleasant and dangerous symptoms, the child may have red gums and a temperature that causes fever, chills, and sometimes migraines.
Red Gum Treatment
In the tactics of treating gum disease, the nature of the edema and the disease that caused this ailment should be identified first. In any case, you need to consult a pediatrician and a dentist who will prescribe you medication or preventive treatment.
At home, parents can relieve pain from inflammation in a child by rinsing from decoctions of various medicinal herbs, for example, from chamomile, black tea, calendula, sea buckthorn, etc.
With honey, you can lubricate inflammation and thereby soften the tissue. Rinsing with a solution of baking soda, light miramistin or chlorhexidine solutions also helps. These funds have antimicrobial effects, and therefore, together with the removal of redness, the microflora of the mucosa is also restored.
In case redness is associated with teething in babies, choose a rodent for it made of high-quality and soft silicone. This material will help relieve itching and burning of the mucosa, and also accelerate the process of the appearance of teeth.
Prevention and Tips
Note that treating and getting rid of a problem is much more difficult than preventing it. Watch the quality of cleansing your child’s teeth and oral cavity, his nutrition and lifestyle. Keep sharp and large objects away from the mouth and organs of the gastrointestinal tract. Encourage your child to visit the dentist once every six months, even if there are no acute and visible reasons.