According to Children's Hospital Boston, gum disease is a bacterial infection in the gums and adjacent tissues. Kids can develop this condition if they do not take good care of their teeth or have certain risk factors. The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) explains that almost all kids and adolescents have the most mild form of gum disease, called gingivitis. It can progress and threaten their teeth if it is not treated.
Mild Type
According to the AAP, chronic gingivitis is the most common and least severe form of gum disease in kids. It inflames the gums and makes the tissue bleed easily. It comes from poor dental hygiene and will disappear if an affected child brushes and flosses frequently and gets regular dental care. Otherwise it can progress into more serious types of gum disease.
Severe Types
Aggressive periodontitis is most common in teenagers. They don't develop a lot of plaque, but they lose alveolar bone. This form of gum disease is localized and usually affects the incisors and first molars, the AAP states.
Generalized aggressive periodontitis attacks the whole mouth and causes a heavy plaque buildup. The gums get red and swollen, and eventually teeth may get loose. This type of gum disease usually starts in adolescence.
Risk Factors
Poor dental habits are the main cause of gum disease in kids, but there are certain physical risk factors that make some youngsters more susceptible. These include Down Syndrome, Papillion-Lefevre Syndrome, Kindler Syndrome and type 1 diabetes. The AAP states that diabetes is particularly problematic, with one in ten type 1 diabetics between the ages of 11 and 18 also suffering from periodontitis.
Genetics is also a major risk factor. The AAP recommends regular gum disease screening for kids with periodontitis-afflicted family members.
Symptoms
The AAP cites four main gum disease symptoms in kids. Puffy gums are the first symptom, and the second is bleeding from the gums whenever the teeth are brushed or flossed. Continual bad breath is the third symptom. It persists even when the teeth have just been brushed. Receding gums are the last symptom. The gums pull noticeably back from the teeth, and severe cases expose the roots. Any parent who notices these symptoms should take their child to a dentist immediately.
Treatment/Prevention
The AAP recommends teaching kids about good oral hygiene early to prevent gum disease development. Teenagers often become lax about personal hygiene, and hormonal changes make them more vulnerable to periodontal disease. The AAP states that kids with good ingrained flossing and brushing habits are more likely to continue them in adolescence. Training can begin as young as age one, when you can brush your baby's teeth with a tiny amount of toothpaste and soft brush. Youngsters should have a dental check-up every six months.
Kids who develop gum disease must become diligent about brushing and flossing. This can usually conquer the problem so more drastic treatments, like deep cleaning and scaling, are not necessary.
