Herpangina in Children

Children get scratches and bumps like anyone else due to their curiosity and interest in the world around them. But what if the bumps happen in their mouth, and not as a result of them falling? It could be herpangina.  Here, we’ll go over what herpangina is, and how to relieve the discomfort associated with this condition. 

What it is

It’s something that does come with mouth sores, but you also may get a headache, loss of appetite, fever, and even a sore throat, all of which can make swallowing hurt in a lot of cases. 

The sores in the mouth are like tiny fluid bumps or even blisters that are white or even whitish gray, with a border that’s red. 

Visible on the mouth roof, the back of one’s throat, and sometimes in specific areas in the mouth. Sometimes, a fever accompanies it, which can be quick, ranging from 101 to even as high as 106 in a lot of cases. The biggest thing to worry about is avoiding dehydration, as it happens a lot in this condition. 

Relieving Discomfort 

Because herpangina is a viral condition, the symptoms can be discomforting.  Many times, healthcare professionals diagnose this, but it’s mild, with no specifics in terms of treatment. 

There are different ways to relieve symptoms, which include: 

• Reducing fever and pain with acetaminophen and ibuprofen 

• Increasing foods or fluids that will help with lowering temperatures 

• Eating a diet that’s bland and not irritating 

• Gargling with peroxyl and cold water 

Try to also make sure that the oral health environment is maintained too. Have them brush their teeth and take care of it as best as they can. 

A mouthwash may be used too in this case, in order to heal the irritation a little bit faster. However, you should always check with the dentist, in order to ensure that rinses are appropriate for them before they get thrown into the oral care routines. 

Herpangina is a contagious disease, and it can be something that does spread to siblings and classmates. That means, practicing good oral hygiene and also practicing good overall hygiene is imperative. 

Disinfect the surfaces that a child has touched in a lot of cases. 

You may even need to isolate the child, keeping them at home, and away from other people, so that they don’t spread the infection. 

If they’re in daycare, you may need to keep them at home, until the symptoms resolve. 

Now, you don’t send them back until they’ve fully made a recovery. This can be a bit of a challenge for some parents, as they may believe that once the fever breaks, it’s okay. However, due to the contagious nature of this disease, it’s better to keep them at home until they’ve managed a swift, speedy recovery. 

Herpangina is a condition that has a lot of lingering effects if one isn't careful, and it can affect the mouth, along with the rest of the body. Like other colds and ways of getting sick, it can take some time for you to properly get used to this. With that said, if you notice that you have some issues, the best thing for you to do is to make sure that you get the treatment that you do. 

Herpangina is treatable, and it can be a bit scary for children. But with the proper treatment and wellness, you’ll be able to improve the aspects of this, and in turn, you’ll be able to, over time, create and craft the best experience that you can, and enjoy the results too.

Diet and Oral Health

Tooth decay is a big part of a person’s oral health, and if you let it linger, it causes extractions, fillings and the like. Decay occurs when the sugar does react with the plaque bacteria, forming acids that will eventually destroy your enamel. After his happens a few times, this will cause a hole to form, and the cavity gets in there, causing further decay far quicker. 

So how does food play a part in this? decay is caused by sugars, all of which come in different forms, with most of the “ose” words being the source for this. fructose, glucose, and sucrose are common ones. And they are, of course, gross, damaging the teeth.

Processed foods have higher sugars in them and tend to appear higher on the ingredient list. Try to read the ingredients when you’re out shopping for food. 

When you do read, make sure you’re mindful of the different types of items that are in there. if there isn’t “added sugar” that doesn’t mean that it’s totally sugar free, just there’s no extra sugar.   They might contain carbs, so make sure you’re sure of what you’re putting in your body before you have it. 

Can drinks and foods cause erosion? 

Yes they can, especially if they’re acid.  T his dissolves the tooth enamel. Anything with a smaller pH than 5.5 may cause this. some alkalis do have a higher pH that will cancel out the different pH that the acidic foods have. 7 is the number that’s right in the middle. 

Here are some foods that are more alkali: 

• Mineral water 

• Milk 

• Cheddar cheese 

Some of the more acidic foods are: 

• Lager 

• Orange juice 

• Pickles 

• Grapefruits 

• Sodas 

• Vinegar 

• Red wine 

So if you are going to have them, you want to make sure that you balance these out. for example, you have some fruit? Eat some cheese after that. 

Some good savory snacks may be good as well, such as: 

• Raw veggies 

• Breadsticks 

• Nuts 

What about Sweets 

You need to bear in mind that there’s no set amount of what you can drink in terms of sugar, and same with eating, but it’s more based on how often you consume these. Sweets are fine but have them during meals. Don’t just walk around in between and have some cookies. 

Try to reduce the sugar foods, and consider having xylitol gum, in order to help offset the effects of tooth decay. Sugary foods and items cause a ton of different health issues, such as increasing body weight, heart disease, and other problems. 

Why this matters 

So you might wonder why your diet has such an intimate connection with oral health. Well, whenever you eat or drink something, the teeth get thrown under an attack of acid for up to an hour, because the sugar naturally reacts with the bacteria inside plaque, the sticky parts of the teeth, and creates acids that are harmful. So make sure that you have these foods and drinks during mealtimes and limit the time that the mouth gets at risk.

When you constantly consume acids, it’s harmful, and the acid will erode or dissolve the enamel, and expose your dentine under this, and make the teeth unsightly and sensitive. 

Diets rich in vitamins, minerals, and even fruits and veggies help with this.   you can prevent gum disease, which will cause you to reduce the tooth loss, and bad breath that’s there. 

So yes, keep your diet good, and keep your teeth aligned, for the best results you can get!

All About Cavities

 Cavities are a form of tooth decay where bacteria generate acids, destroying the enamel of the tooth, and the dentin underneath it.  you might wonder about what these normally entail. Well, we have a little more to tell you about cavities, and why they are no good. 

Signs and Symptoms of Cavities 

Most of the time, you do know when you might have problems. The first, is your teeth hurt, aching a little bit. The second, is there’s  activity when it comes to sweet, hot, and cold drinks. The third, is a pain when chewing. 

Cavity Causes 

The main reason for cavities is because we don’t take care of our teeth and are eating too many sugary foods. 

While the mouth houses a wealth of bacteria, building up sticky film called plaque happens when the bad bacteria eat a whole bunch of sugars. 

When we drink and eat certain foods, the bacteria create what’s called acids. These dissolve the protective elements beneath the plaque that’s retained. The acids remove various minerals directly from the enamel. When not treated, cavities form. 

The decay then happens in the major parts of your mouth known as the enamel, and the enamel then gets further brown down as decay gets further into the dentin, eventually reaching the tooth pulp. That of course, can lead to some major damage and possible removal of the tooth. 

Diagnosis and Prevention 

The easiest way to diagnose these cavities is by looking at the surface of the tooth. X-rays also help to see where the cavity goes, and how far into the pulp or dentin of your teeth. 

If there is one, you will need treatments, but there are different ways to help you with preventing this. 

The first is to brush and floss these on a daily basis. It reduces the amount of plaque that builds up in the mouth on the daily. 

The second, is to eat less starchy and sugary foods as often, in order to reduce the acids that damage the teeth in the mouth.

When brushing, utilize a fluoride toothpaste. This will strengthen the teeth.  The treatments also provided by dentists, or utilizing fluoride supplements are further recommended too. 

Try to use mouth rinses that are antibacterial, in order to reduce the bacteria that’s responsible for activities. 

Finally, if you have gum, chewing gum with xylitol in there also decreases the overall bacterial growth of the area, and can make things easier on you. 

Treatments for Cavities 

Most of the time, treatments involve filling in the cavity especially if the enamel isn’t able to be fixed.  If you have a chance, get sealants early to prevent this. 

If it gets serious, you might need a root canal. 

Children can get the baby molars and later on those permanent molars sealed. The fluoride varnish on both the permanent and primary teeth protect you from decay.

When not treated, it actually can cause significant decay. Eventually, the decay, when left uncontrolled, permanently destroys the teeth. There is also the possibility of an abscess developing as infection spreads to the tooth root. 

The cavities that occur are a result of poor hygiene and retained dental plaque. The specific bacteria can also hit the gum line, causing gum disease in the mouth, which at that point, you’ll need a periodontist to treat. because they can penetrate the mouth, they may also create nerve damage too if you’re not careful. 

Simply put, with cavities, treating them right will eventually lead to prevention. Utilizing preventative care stops the worst of the damage from happening and builds better dental health.