Although sensitive teeth are more common in adults over the age of 25, it can happen to kids. So if your child seems to be suffering from tooth pain and sensitivity, it’s not just in their head. If your child has recently lost baby teeth, they may be suffering from gum pain as new teeth begin to emerge. This is very common and should resolve once the adult teeth cut through the gums. However, your child’s tooth pain could also be caused by a number of other issues, such as tooth decay, an injured and cracked tooth, or teeth clenching and grinding. Here are some common signs of tooth pain in children:
- Avoiding Brushing
- Clutching or Gripping the Area Around Their Mouth
- Aversion to Certain Foods & Beverages
- Trouble Sleeping, Headaches & Jaw Pain
It’s not uncommon for kids to hate brushing and flossing teeth, just like they hate making their beds and doing their homework. But if your child is complaining of pain when brushing, this could indicate a problem other than laziness or procrastination.
Additionally, sensitive teeth could cause your child to regularly touch their face or pull on their ears.
When children purposefully avoid foods and beverages they normally enjoy, like ice cream, popsicles, orange juice, hot chocolate, or crisp chips, they may be suffering from tooth sensitivity. This is because foods and beverages that are cold, hot, hard, or acidic can trigger pain.
Lastly, if your child isn’t sleeping through the night, they could be clenching and grinding their teeth at night (called bruxism), which wears away their teeth’s enamel and causes sensitive teeth. Your child may also complain about jaw tightness or pain, daytime sleepiness, and headaches.
Schedule Your Child’s Next Checkup!
Please notify us if your child has presented with any of these signs. At their next dental checkup, we can examine their mouth for problem areas and suggest treatment. Their sensitive teeth might be helped with a nightguard, a filling, or better daily dental hygiene habits and an anti-sensitivity fluoride toothpaste. Our Growing Smiles Pediatric and Family Dentistry team is here to help you and your family have superb oral health and pain-free smiles.