{"id":267,"date":"2025-12-06T18:44:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-06T18:44:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.texaschoicedental.com\/blog\/?p=267"},"modified":"2025-12-27T18:47:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-27T18:47:08","slug":"dental-danger-can-kids-develop-gum-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.texaschoicedental.com\/blog\/2025\/12\/06\/dental-danger-can-kids-develop-gum-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Dental Danger: Can Kids Develop Gum Disease?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.texaschoicedental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_181225534-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"Man and boy flossing teeth together in front of bathroom mirror\" class=\"wp-image-268\" style=\"width:320px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.texaschoicedental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_181225534-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.texaschoicedental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_181225534-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.texaschoicedental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_181225534-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.texaschoicedental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_181225534-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.texaschoicedental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_181225534-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Do you have a child at home who struggles to floss their teeth after brushing? You might think it\u2019s okay to skip this step, especially if your kid scrubs their enamel consistently, but nothing could be farther from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your little one\u2019s mouth is full of bacteria that can cause plaque, which contributes to common oral concerns, like cavities and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texaschoicedental.com\/gum-disease-treatment.html\">gum disease<\/a>. However, brushing alone removes only an estimated 50% to 70% of this harmful residue. Continue reading to learn more about why it\u2019s also essential for your child to floss!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Causes Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your child might develop gum disease if plaque and tartar are allowed to form on their connective tissues, which can result in an infection. It often starts small, with gingivitis, but is able to progress into more advanced stages, like periodontitis, because it doesn\u2019t always exhibit noticeable symptoms until it gets worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many potential reasons someone might develop periodontal problems, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Poor oral hygiene habits<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consuming too many sugary foods and drinks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hormonal changes, such as puberty or menopause<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Genetics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teeth or bite misalignments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and other health concerns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can Children Develop Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your child is still a baby or doesn\u2019t have all of their teeth yet, you might think it\u2019s too soon to worry that they\u2019ll get gum disease. However, experts recommend cleaning your kid\u2019s mouth as early as their very first day to help avoid potential issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is because it\u2019s possible for your child to contract gum disease early in life if you don\u2019t take the proper precautions. Even infants can develop gingivitis due to the sugars in milk and formula if their connective tissues aren\u2019t wiped down regularly. Then, when they grow enough teeth that their enamel touches (usually between 2 and 3 years old), it\u2019s important to floss between them to remove harmful plaque and bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Can I Help My Child Prevent Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully, this condition is often preventable. There are several potential ways to proactively preserve your child\u2019s smile, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Ensure they maintain a twice-daily at-home routine of brushing and flossing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monitor their dental care regimen until they\u2019re older (about 8 years old) to ensure they clean their mouth thoroughly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Providing wholesome snacks that don\u2019t contain sugary, starchy, or processed foods.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encouraging them to drink more water throughout the day to clear away germs, leftover food, and other debris.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teaching them how to use string floss, floss threaders, flossers, or an oral irrigator, as necessary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scheduling a routine dental checkup and cleaning for them every six months.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If your child\u2019s connective tissues look darker or puffier than usual, or they\u2019re complaining of pain or sensitivity, they might already have developed a problem requiring their dentist\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Patients at Cove Choice Dental benefit from a team of dentists eager to help families in Copperas Cove build and maintain happy, healthy smiles. They collaborate to provide a comprehensive menu of services using state-of-the-art technology for more comfortable, accurate results. Plus, they welcome people of all ages, so you and your loved ones all receive the same top-quality care. If you\u2019re concerned that your child has gum disease, you can request an appointment on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texaschoicedental.com\/contact.html\">website<\/a> or by calling (254) 987-6777.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you have a child at home who struggles to floss their teeth after brushing? You might think it\u2019s okay to skip this step, especially if your kid scrubs their enamel consistently, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Your little one\u2019s mouth is full of bacteria that can cause plaque, which contributes to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Dental Danger: Can Kids Develop Gum Disease? | Cove Choice Dental<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you\u2019re unsure whether children can have periodontal problems, continue reading to learn more about what to expect!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.texaschoicedental.com\/blog\/2025\/12\/06\/dental-danger-can-kids-develop-gum-disease\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dental Danger: Can Kids Develop Gum Disease? 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