Inflammation of gums in children: how to treat and relieve inflammation

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the gums - gingivitis - is a widespread disease, especially in childhood. This disease should be taken seriously and treated by a dentist.

It should be borne in mind that without proper therapy, gum inflammation in children can become chronic, then ulcerative-necrotic, and, as a result, lead to the most serious dental problem - inflammation of the tissues surrounding the tooth root, the bone tissue of the alveoli and gums. That is, to periodontitis, due to which your child may lose teeth.

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Causes gum inflammation

The most common cause of gum inflammation in children is related to poor oral hygiene: irregular and poor-quality brushing of teeth leaves plaque on them, and over time this leads to the formation of tartar. Gum inflammation can also be caused by an infection that gets on the mucous membrane of the gums of a small child who constantly puts dirty hands and toys in his mouth.

Inflammation of the gums in infants most often occurs during teething: this process is not only painful, it can be accompanied by irritation of the gum tissue through which the tooth “makes its way to the surface”, as well as gum injuries - when the baby tries to relieve his condition with the help of a rattle or a cracker offered by his mother...

In preschool and school-age children, gums can become inflamed due to dental caries (which parents often do not treat on baby teeth!), abnormal tooth positioning, due to gum injury due to malocclusion, injury to the mucous membrane during eating (for example, too hot food). And also due to food stuck between the teeth or insufficient saliva production (xerostomia).

However, according to dentists, the key cause of gum inflammation in children is inadequate dental care. But this primarily concerns acute gingivitis. The chronic form of this inflammatory disease can be a consequence of various infectious diseases, as well as those chronic diseases that children suffer from. These include gastrointestinal tract diseases, rheumatism, liver and gallbladder pathologies, nephropathy, tuberculosis and diabetes. An important factor in the development of gum inflammation in children is a deficiency of vitamin C in the body and decreased immunity.

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Symptoms gum inflammation

The most common form of gum inflammation in children is acute catarrhal gingivitis. The main symptoms of gum inflammation in children are hyperemia (redness) of the mucous membrane of the gums and its swelling. Swelling of the interdental papillae is also often observed, which is often accompanied by bleeding. An unpleasant odor from the mouth may be felt.

In this case, the child complains of an itching sensation in the inflamed gum, and during eating – of pain in the gum.

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Diagnostics gum inflammation

Diagnosis of gum inflammation in children is carried out by a doctor during an examination of the oral cavity - based on the condition of the mucous membrane and soft tissues of the gum. If non-mineralized deposits on the teeth (microbial plaque, soft plaque, food debris) and supragingival tartar are detected, then the specialist - in the presence of redness, swelling and bleeding when probing in the gum - makes a diagnosis: acute catarrhal gingivitis.

If a bacterial infection is suspected, the dentist may take a scraping from the inflamed areas of the gum.

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Treatment gum inflammation

If signs of gum inflammation appear, you should contact a dentist who will make a correct diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment for gum inflammation in children (gingivitis).

In the treatment of this disease, as a rule, local treatment agents with anesthetic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory action are used, as well as those that help restore the normal condition of the gum mucosa. These drugs are used in the form of rinses, irrigations, applications and so-called mouth baths.

For gingivitis, it is recommended to rinse the mouth with infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs. For example, a decoction of oak bark, chamomile, sage, calendula, birch buds, yarrow. And also hydrogen peroxide (a tablespoon of a 3% solution per glass of boiled water) or a furacilin solution (20 mg or 1 tablet per 100 ml of hot water).

When gums are inflamed in infants, special gels are prescribed to relieve itching and pain (for example, Kamistad gel). And to prevent infection, parents should constantly monitor the condition of the child's gums and thoroughly clean the oral cavity from food debris.

Among the medications for local treatment of gum inflammation in children, such drugs as Kamistad, Rotokan, Romazulan, and Sanguiritrin are often prescribed.

Kamistad gel (based on lidocaine hydrochloride and chamomile flower extract) has a local anesthetic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect. For children from three months to two years old, the drug should be applied with a 5 mm strip to painful and inflamed areas and rubbed into the gums with light movements - three times a day.

The liquid preparation Rotokan (contains extracts of calendula, chamomile and yarrow) also has a local anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect, and stimulates the process of regeneration of damaged mucous membrane of the gums. Method of its application: 5 ml of the preparation is diluted in 200 ml of warm water and the resulting composition is used for applications (15-20 minutes each) or mouth baths (1-2 minutes), 2-3 times a day, for 2-5 days. By the way, mouth baths differ from regular mouth rinsing in that the medicinal solution should be held in the mouth (between the gum and cheek) for at least half a minute.

The concentrate for the preparation of the romazulan solution contains chamomile extract and chamomile essential oil. For the treatment of gum inflammation in children, it is used as a mouth rinse (several times a day) with a solution: 1 tablespoon of the preparation per liter of boiled water.

The antimicrobial drug sanguiritrin (0.2% alcohol solution for external and local use) is active against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and fungal pathogens of inflammatory processes. It is used as an aqueous solution (1 teaspoon of the drug per 200 ml of warm boiled water). In case of stomatitis of various etiologies, the solution of the drug is applied to the lesions of the oral mucosa. For children under 5 years old, the oral mucosa is lubricated with an aqueous solution - 3 times a day for 2-5 days, and children over 5 years old should rinse their mouth.

In rare cases and only when gum inflammation in children begins to take a chronic or more complex form (ulcerative necrotic gingivitis), the doctor resorts to more intensive treatment and prescribes antibiotics (usually ampicillin). In addition, antibacterial or antifungal medications are prescribed in cases where the cause of gingivitis is infectious and inflammatory processes, and the goal of treatment is to eliminate the infectious agent.

Read also: Treatment of gum inflammation

Prevention

The main measure in preventing gum inflammation in children is to brush not only the teeth, but also the palate and tongue twice a day (morning and before bed).

Parents should remember that caries must be treated, and malocclusion must be corrected or at least adjusted. It is also necessary to treat the disease that could have provoked gum inflammation in children.

Teach your child to brush their teeth regularly and correctly. And try to strengthen their immunity – with good nutrition and vitamins.

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