Childhood is a uniquely special time of life and often beautiful, replete with and innate innocence and uninhibited honesty. Children have the propensity to express their feelings openly, saying aloud whatever comes to mind without reservation. However, a child’s behavior is also dependent upon his or her previous experiences in how their innocent musings were either positively or negatively received and subsequently responded to by their parents. A child can express any number of emotions including joy, happiness, anger, anxiety or fear (to name only a few) and what is expressed including the way in which it is expressed, over time, becomes a direct reflection of the socialized conditioning the child has experienced as a result of their parents’ reactions of negativity, support, anger or love. It’s important for every parent to be keenly aware of and attentive to how they respond to their child. A child’s experience bears significance not only for the short term but also has the potential to create a negative or positive impact upon his or her future.
However, more often overlooked by parents, is the fact that dental health is also directly connected to mental health, particularly for a child. During childhood, it is imperative to maintain a suitable oral environment as both tooth decay and gum disease have been found to be connected to behavioral changes. Oftentimes it is difficult for parents to understand the root cause of a child’s altered behavior; however, sometimes dental issues are the reason. Identifying these imperfections and getting the right treatment for them could provide great relief to both parents and children.
Effects of dental imperfections on children’s mental health:
Tooth Decay
Unfortunately, the spread of bacteria happens at a much faster rate in children than adults and so they are more prone to cavities. In addition, children experience toothache faster and more easily. They may not be able to express their pain, particularly when the pain is dull, continuous and constant. However, this pain might continue to frustrate the child, causing him or her to become anxious, irritable and intolerant. A toothache can also disturb a child’s sleep. Lack of sleep poses a major risk for many health ailments including memory loss, decreased social behavior and impaired cognitive skills.
Crowding or Spacing of Teeth
Malocclusion (either crowding or spacing of teeth) is aesthetically unappealing in general and therefore, a child’s self-esteem could be negatively affected because of his or her physical appearance. Feelings of self-consciousness might restrict the child from smiling confidently in public or even from mingling with other children, engaging socially or being more vulnerable to bullying from other children.
Thumb-sucking
Tooth malocclusion, thumb-sucking and mental health are interrelated. A child who prolongs a thumb-sucking habit even after 5 years of age is likely expressing insecurity. Ways in which a child can express insecurity is by self-isolation, thumb-sucking (self-soothing), introversion and pessimism. It is prudent to address any underlying emotions and expressed behaviors by a professional pediatric mental health professional or their pediatrician before dental outcomes can be treated effectively.
Fear of the Dentist
A child may be afraid or exhibit anxiety when going to see the dentist and thus try to express his or her aversion behaviorally. The most probable reason for this fear could be the result of a previous negative experience at a dental office when visiting for the first time. A child may alternately try to hide his or her dental ailments, so as to avoid having to go back to the dentist. This kind of hiding behavior often leads to more irritability in the child and damage to his or her overall well-being stemming from the dental condition and resulting pain.
How can you manage dental imperfections when they occur?
Follow these easy remedies to help your child overcome any mental or emotional distress that may have happened in the wake of dental issues.
Keep a close eye on your child’s oral hygiene. If you notice even a small black spot, make an appointment immediately to get it filled.
Consider the topical fluoride application if your child is more prone to cavities. Fluoride has an excellent, anti-cariogenic property that helps prevent cavity formation. It’s also a good idea to use fluoridated toothpaste as is recommended by your dentist.
Avoid giving your child sugary or sticky foods. It’s recommended that a diet include high fiber content rather than high carbohydrate content—not only for oral health but also for your child’s overall health.
Do not let your child’s tooth become enveloped by a cavity. If this happens, seek dental intervention. When pain or swelling occurs, the tooth might require root canal treatment or even extraction, depending on the tooth’s condition.
If your child is over the age of 5 and still sucks his or her thumb, it’s important to talk to your child to find out what might be troubling him or her and why sucking their thumb is soothing. You can also take your child to see a psychologist if you find this necessary and appropriate.
Orthodontic treatment must be considered for a child developing malocclusion. If you detect malocclusion at an early stage, you may be able to protect your child from undergoing complex, often stressful procedures at a later stage. Sometimes, out of significant distress, a child might start to clench their teeth. This behavior negatively stresses and affects muscles and joints around the oral cavity. All these factors could be nullified through early intervention.
Help your child feel comfortable at the dentist’s office. Ask other parents which pediatric dentist they use and have had positive experiences with. Encourage your child’s dentist to discuss the treatment procedures openly with your child, so that your child can remain informed and begin to build a rapport with the dentist. Explanations, however, should be delivered carefully and age appropriately, so that a child can understand them. For instance, anesthesia and numbing can be explained as a ballooning effect; rubber dam as a raincoat to the tooth; the use of a handpiece as a water spray to remove bacteria and so on. In this way, the child can easily understand the procedure without being afraid of it.
A child’s sense of comfort is extremely important for his or her mental well-being. When a dental issue leads to irritation or behavior changes in a child, it’s crucial that parents seek out the potential sources so that it can be addressed in a timely manner and therefore alleviate the stress being felt by the child. At the end of the day, the stabilization of a child’s mood is central to his or her future health and happiness.