Eat Right, Stay Bright: Nutrition Month Fest at Swavalamban

Dental Problems in children with developmental disabilities

regular dental check-up 

Even babies can develop tooth decay if good feeding habits aren't practiced. Putting a baby to sleep with a bottle might be convenient, but can harm the baby's teeth. When the sugars from juice or milk remain on a baby's teeth for hours, they can eat away at the enamel, creating a condition known as bottle mouth. Pocked, pitted, or discolored front teeth are signs of bottle mouth. Severe cases result in cavities and the need to pull all of the front teeth until the permanent ones grow in.

anatomy of a normal tooth

Children with disabilities are at increased risk for dental malformation and oral diseases. A number of factors put these children at greater risk

1. Physical limitations and behavioral problems

Children with disabilities that affect their motor coordination may have difficulties with chewing and swallowing. In addition, they may not have proper movement of their tongue and lack the tongue's natural cleaning action in the mouth.
Children with disabilities may also lack the ability to brush and floss their teeth appropriately or at all. Children with behavioral limitations often lack the motor coordination and attention span for good oral hygiene.

2. Special diets 

Children who need help drinking and eating may drink fewer fluids so they do not receive enough fluids to wash away food particles in their mouth.

Additionally, children who have difficulty chewing and swallowing often eat pureed food, which sticks to their teeth.

Sticky foods and drinking formula, milk or juice from a bottle, especially before and during bedtime, makes the child more susceptible to dental decay.

3. Oral Conditions

Prenatal and birth related difficulties, in addition to high fevers, have been associated with enamel and dentin defects that make teeth more prone to dental decay.

Congenitally missing teeth and teeth/jaws that do not align properly are commonly seen in children with craniofacial anomalies. Children who have open mouth postures and/or are obligate mouth breathers will often have red, inflamed gums. Gum disease is often found in children with systemic illnesses including Diabetes, Downs Syndrome and AIDS.

Good oral health and prevention against tooth and gum disease is most important in patients with mental, physical, and developmental disabilities. Early referral to the dentist can be beneficial to the parents for dental anticipatory guidance and oral hygiene education. In addition, treatment of conditions in the early stages is often easier for the patient and dental practitioner.

4. Children with Systemic Disease

The literature has reported that the most common unmet health care need of this group of children is dental care. Parents of children with special health care needs often have calendars that are filled with many appointments to meet the child's physical, social, behavioral and educational needs. In addition, there are a limited number of dentists that are comfortable with treating these children in a private office setting