Periodontal disease is usually a condition that only affects adults. However, it can occasionally affect children and adolescents. While the risk of the disease in a child is extremely low (less than 1%), it is serious enough that the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Periodontology recognizes it as a chronic infection that requires immediate, professional treatment.
Children who develop juvenile periodontitis are usually between 10-15 years of age.
If your child has Type 1 Diabetes, they are more likely to experience adolescent periodontal infections than children without diabetes. Approximately 1-in-10 children with Type 1 Diabetes will have some type of periodontitis. In most cases, family medical history plays a role.
In most children with juvenile periodontitis, irritants like plaque and calculus (tartar) are present along the gums. These irritants can lead to tissue deterioration, detachment, and loss of bone in the jaw in those spaces. As such, parents and caregivers should assist their children with home hygiene practices to ensure thorough plaque removal between dental checkups.
The earlier juvenile periodontitis is detected, the better the treatment outcome usually is. Experts recommend prevention-based non-surgical therapy and possible antibiotic treatment. The sooner the child’s oral condition is diagnosed, the greater the chances are for successful results.
It’s important to schedule an exam and cleaning for all children twice a year (every six months) beginning at age 1 or when their first tooth erupts. As your family or pediatric dentist continually monitors their oral environment, they can intercept gum infections at the earliest stages possible.
Encourage brushing twice a day, daily flossing, and schedule regular checkups (with gum disease screenings) regularly for your child and teen, especially if they’re more at-risk for this specific type of oral disease.