Childhood dental problems: Common or concerning?
Posted on July 3, 2025 in Healthy You
One of the many challenges parents face is knowing whether your child’s behavior is a phase or a problem that needs attention. Take your kid’s oral health, for example. Could that thumb-sucking habit be a normal part of development or will it cause long-term dental damage?
To help you navigate these questions, Dr. Jeffrey Chaffin, Chief Dental Officer for Delta Dental of Iowa, clears the confusion on childhood dental issues.
Q: What are some of the most common dental issues dentists see in children?
Dr. Chaffin: Children can have the same dental issues as everyone else, but we often categorize these into two areas: 1) dental cavities and issues associated with cavities and 2) growth and oral habits that result in abnormal “bite” issues.
Q: Should parents be worried about thumb sucking in children? Does it become a concern at a certain age?
Dr. Chaffin: Thumb sucking is considered normal for children and is often related to comfort. Most kids will stop sucking their thumb between ages 2 to 4 without any other intervention. Experts recommend that thumb sucking stop by age 4 as continued thumb sucking can be related to dental issues such as misaligned teeth and changes in the roof of the mouth (palate).
Q: How does frequent snacking or eating sugary foods affect a child’s teeth, and what practical advice can you offer parents to lessen the risks?
Dr. Chaffin: The issue on sugary foods is the amount of sugar versus frequency. For overall health reasons, the amount of sugar is important, but for dental health, we want to limit the frequency of these sugar attacks on the mouth. Each time a person has sugary food/drinks, it creates a short-term environment where cavities can form.
Q: Are there any dental concerns related to kids who breathe through their mouth or grind their teeth?
Dr. Chaffin: Mouth breathing can be related to your child’s oral health. Early intervention with your healthcare providers can help find the underlying problem of the mouth breathing to help minimize potential oral health problems. Crooked teeth, increased risk for cavities and gum disease, and changes in the development of the jaw are related to long-term mouth breathing.
While the sound of grinding teeth can sometimes be alarming, it is actually quite common in kids. Some believe that calm bedtime routines and ensuring your child has had plenty of water throughout the day can help reduce nighttime grinding, but most kids will outgrow the grinding on their own. If the grinding is very serious, please seek attention from your dentist.
Q: Are baby teeth really that important if they’re going to fall out anyway?
Dr. Chaffin: Baby teeth are just as important as your permanent teeth. For the child, these teeth affect the development, ability to chew and speak, and are even related to the alignment of the future permanent teeth. Poor oral health in the baby teeth era is often related to poor oral health with permanent teeth. We aim to start good oral health behaviors early on.
Q: What signs should parents watch for that might indicate a dental problem in their child?
Dr. Chaffin: Tooth pain and swollen gums are probably the most common dental problems for children. Young children can’t always express that pain to their parents, but these issues can result in difficulty in eating/chewing and changes in color of the teeth. Cavities start with a yellow to brown stain and if left untreated, usually turn into a darker black color. Occasionally, we can see a “gum pimple,” which is a sign of an abscess (pus-filled pocket) with a tooth. Regular dental checkups and ensuring that you start brushing your children’s teeth at an early age can prevent such things.
Q: How early should kids start seeing a dentist, and how often should they go?
Dr. Chaffin: A good rule of thumb for the first dental visit is around the first birthday. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that the first dental visit occur within 6 months of the first tooth coming in or the first birthday, whichever is first. This first visit is important to chart a course for good oral health. When we see kids coming to the dentist for the first visit at 2 or 3 years of age, some already have rampant dental cavities.
Q: What can parents do at home to help prevent cavities and other dental issues in young kids?
Dr. Chaffin: Your own personal oral hygiene is the most important factor in preventing oral disease. Kids can’t do this on their own, so parents and caregivers need to take on this role. Early on, before teeth come in, parents can clean their children’s gums with a soft and clean cloth or gauze. This is especially good to do before bedtime. After teeth start to come in, you can replace the cloth with a small toothbrush and gently clean the teeth and gums twice a day. For children under 2 years of age, a very small smear of fluoride toothpaste can be used. After the second birthday, a pea-sized amount of toothpaste is appropriate.
As the child ages and takes on their own toothbrushing, parents should still check to see how well they are brushing and provide additional brushing as necessary.
Routine dental checkups every 6 months are important as well. These help identify any problems early on and also help prevent dental disease.
Q: What’s one piece of advice you wish all parents knew about protecting their child’s dental health?
Dr. Chaffin: Habits are hard for everyone to start and to keep. Long-term oral health is achieved by developing good home oral hygiene habits. Brushing twice a day and adding flossing later on are extremely important.