When one thinks of childhood diseases, gingivitis and gum disease probably don't come to mind. It's true that gum disease is more prevalent in older populations, but children going through puberty can be especially susceptible to this problem. See why puberty affects dental health and learn how to help your child in the long run.

How Does Puberty Affect the Oral Cavity?  

When a child goes through puberty, regulatory chemicals known as hormones increase throughout the body. When hormones like estrogen or progesterone are released in the body, they actually cause more blood flow to the gum tissue.

This increased blood flow can cause gum tissue to become swollen and more sensitive to plaque and food particles. Because it may be uncomfortable for your child to brush and floss well due to swelling, it's easy for bacterial biofilms to build up and for gingivitis to develop. Research has shown that microorganisms called black-pigmented bacteroids — bacteria in the oral cavity that's linked to periodontal diseases — tend to increase during puberty.

How Can You Help Your Child?

One survey found that only 13% of teens floss and about 44% never floss. These statistics aren't promising since flossing is an important habit to keep gingivitis from progressing to gum disease. To improve outcomes, you may want to invest in a water flosser to help your child prevent gingivitis.

Water flossers are gentle and use a stream of water to loosen plaque and clear away food debris. One study found that using both an oscillating toothbrush and a water flosser could significantly improve gum health. It's also important to keep regular appointments with a pediatric dentist since they can monitor your child's oral health and provide regular cleanings.

How Can Periodontal Disease Be Treated in Kids?

While scaling and root planing, or deep dental cleaning, can be used to treat periodontal disease in kids, some children balk at the idea. Thankfully, your pediatric dentist can try less invasive methods first.

For example, some pediatric dentists may use a periodontal endoscope to monitor the depth of your child's gum pockets. Endoscopes can be more comfortable than manual measuring instruments. The pediatric dentist can also treat inflamed gum tissue with a dental laser. There tends to be less bleeding, swelling, and pain after the use of a dental laser compared to other periodontal therapies.

Reach out to a pediatric dentist in your area for more prevention and treatment ideas.