Gum Infection in Children

Written by: Muhammad Arif Rahmi

 Gum infection damages the soft tissue and, without treatment, can destroy the bones that support your teeth. It usually causes the gum tissue to swell, turn red and bleed easily. AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some parents and a physician about the causes, prevention, and treatment of this disease.

Sabrullah, a resident of Laghman province says, “The signs of gum infection are trouble during eating food, pain, fever, sore throat, insomnia and toothache.”

Roman says, “My gums are infected. I suffer from insomnia, and when I eat food, I suffer from toothache too.”

Assadullah Sadat, a dentist at one of the private dental clinics, Kabul city says, “Bad breath, bleeding of gums during eating food; ulcers in the mouth; destroying the soft tissues of the teeth; toothache when eating food or drinking tea are the main symptoms of gum infection in children.”

What do some people think about the causes of this disease?

Sabrullah says, “Not using toothbrush causes the infection of gums.”

Sadia says, “I think eating more sweets causes toothache and then toothache causes the infection of gums.”

Doctor Sadat says, “Not washing mouth; leaving the particles of foods in the teeth; lack of some vitamins, eating chips and other greasy and fast foods could cause the infection of gums. Some bacteria could also cause the infection of gums.”

How do some people treat the gum infection at home?

A child says, “When I was suffering from my gum infection, my mother put cloves in my tooth and it reduced my gum pain.”

Another child says, “My mother put a cigarette filter in my tooth. It reduced my toothache but caused the decay of my two teeth.”

Doctor Sadat says, “Using snuff and cigarette filters cause more infection of the gums. The gargle of a mixture of a little salt and water is useful in such cases but the disease should be treated by a physician to prevent further health problems.”