When people think about their
dentists, they tend to think only about their teeth and gums. Most people don’t
think about their bones. It’s very easy to think of your teeth as little bones
that grow out of your gums, but when we talk about bone loss, we aren’t just
talking about tooth decay. We are talking about your child’s jawbone and skull.
Every part of the body is connected.
Just as the leg bone is connected to the hipbone, the jawbone and skull are
connected to the teeth and gums. Poor dental hygiene can cause harmful acids
and bacteria to build up not just on your children’s teeth and gums but in the
jawbone and skull, causing them to wear away. Your children’s teeth live in
little holes in those bones. If those holes get eaten away and become too big,
your children’s teeth can loosen or even fall out.
Another preventable cause of bone
loss is osteoporosis, a weakness of the bones caused by a lack of calcium.
While this condition is uncommon in children, childhood diet may influence
osteoporosis later in life. The best way to prevent osteoporosis and a good
piece of health advice in general, is to ensure that your child has a diet rich
in calcium and vitamin D. It’s never too early to reduce the risk of developing
this very serious condition later in life.
Certain conditions such as cancer
and autoimmune diseases can cause bone loss; so can certain medical treatments.
It’s important to let us know at KiDDS Dental when your children have significant changes in
their health or if they are taking new medications. Dr. Jared knows the best ways to
mitigate the effect of these changes on their teeth.
Bone loss is a serious problem, but
one that can be effectively fought.
If you have questions regarding bone loss, click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared. Or give us a call at (509)-891-7070.
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