If your child doesn't see the dentist as often as they should, you could be putting them at the dangerous risk of many different oral health problems. You don't want your child to end up needing dental work or orthodontic treatment for problems that could have been prevented.

There are many issues you may notice that you didn't know were associated with their oral health. If your child is doing the following things, take the time to have them looked at buy your local family dentist.

Teeth Grinding

If you can hear your child grinding their teeth throughout the night and they complain that it hurts in their jaw, the problem could be a serious condition. Your child may have temporal mandibular joint disorder, also know as TMJ. This could cause a variety of problems, from pain to joint concerns. The sooner this problem is treated, the easier it will be to treat.

Loud Breathing

If your child is always breathing loudly and is always having a hard time getting air when running around, the problem may be dental instead of a nasal problem. There could be some issues with the alignment of the bones the size of the teeth or other causes. The loud breathing shouldn't be ignored, in case there is a respiratory problem or dangerous air blockage.

Speech Problems

Does your child have a hard time pronouncing words, making it sometimes difficult to understand them? If so, it could because of the shape of the pallet of their mouth and the way their teeth came in. If these problems aren't corrected, this could be a problem with their adult teeth as well. You'll want the dentist to do x-rays to see if there are deformities or abnormalities, so your child can start learning how to talk properly, and so they can enunciate their words.

It's recommended that your child see a dentist at least twice a year for cleanings, and they want the child to have x-rays taken at one of these visits. If you don't take your child to these appointments and you think their oral health may be suffering, or you are noticing any of these symptoms, it's time to get them checked out. You don't want to delay your child, or let them struggle with any of these symptoms because you haven't taken them to see a dentist or addressed the issues, so don't ignore the problems any longer and get them treated. 

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