If your child often has an upset stomach, you might be familiar with the health issues surrounding regular vomiting. But the condition of repeated vomiting, called Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS), can also cause problems for your child’s oral health.
Here at South Davis Pediatric Dentistry, we want you to know what to do to help protect your child’s enamel if frequent vomiting is a problem.
What is Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome?
In case you aren’t familiar with the term, Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome is classified as episodes of severe vomiting that take place without apparent cause. This condition can include episodes that last hours or days. Episodes can alternate between periods of time that are symptom-free.
Vomiting episodes are typically similar to one another, meaning they will start at the same time each day and will last as long as they do on other days. Sometimes, the episodes can include migraines, causing a child to stay in bed for several days.
Frequent Vomiting Means Oral Health Problems
When a child suffers from Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome, here’s what can happen:
- Enamel strips away from the teeth
- Salivary glands swell, causing mouth tissue to become dry, sore, and red
- Chronic sore throats and even hemorrhages under the skin of the palate develop
- Teeth become stained, which often requires years of dental treatment to reverse
How These Problems Affect Your Child
When enamel erodes, children experience increased sensitivity to hot and cold foods and liquids. This brings discomfort that can last into adulthood.
Severe erosion can lead to changes in your child’s bite. The back teeth can be reduced in size and can even fall out if they experience too much erosion.
What You Should Do
If your child suffers from Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome, there are a few steps you can take to help protect their oral health.
Practice rinsing your child’s mouth with a mixture of water and baking soda. This will reduce the amount of bacteria and will protect enamel and gums.
After a vomiting episode, never brush your child’s teeth. Vomiting brings up stomach acid that weakens the enamel of the teeth, so brushing soon after can cause further erosion. The best thing you can do is wait an hour or longer before brushing your child’s teeth. When you brush, use fluoride toothpaste.
Get the Help Your Child Needs—Today!
Start keeping a record of how often your child is vomiting. If you notice anything unusual, call your pediatrician right away. If your child has a chronic condition, proper medical treatment will be necessary.
One especially important medical treatment for kids with CVS is oral health treatment. Here at South Davis Pediatric Dentistry, we share your same concern to help your child have a healthy mouth. Come in and visit us today! If your child is suffering from CVS, we can provide fluoride treatments to help strengthen enamel. Depending on how severe the condition is, we may even prescribe daily fluoride treatments.
Our dental office is here to help when major setbacks to your child’s oral health occur. Don’t hesitate to call today at (801) 294-8880 to schedule an appointment for your child. You can also stop in by scheduling an appointment to ensure your child’s oral health is the best it can be.
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