Kids can be picky eaters and finding ways to get your child to have a full and balanced diet can be difficult for anyone. This only becomes more of a challenge when your child has swallowing difficulties. Swallowing itself is a complicated process for the body and therefore there are many different reasons that your child could be experiencing swallowing difficulties. Knowing the possible causes for these issues can help you know when to go to the doctor and when you can relax.

Obstructions

One of the most common causes of swallowing difficulties in children are throat obstructions. If the esophagus, the pipe leading from the mouth to the stomach, is inflamed for some reason, swallowing can become labored for your child. This may be due to some sort of infection that has caused inflammation, such as thrush or tuberculosis and can often be treated with some targeted medication. There are also a few more serious possible causes, such as the buildup of scar tissue in the throat and esophagus. So, if you are worried about your child, definitely take them for a visit to the doctor’s office.

Developmental Conditions

Developmental conditions occur in the process of your child’s early development and can often be linked to congenital conditions, which your child will have been born with. Such conditions as these will often be known by parents and doctors, due to their nature. Conditions which could affect swallowing can include cerebral palsy, a cleft lip and palate, or various learning disabilities. A way to help your child if their condition is already known is by using a liquid thickener. For example, SimplyThick thickener could make swallowing thin liquids much easier for your little one!

Teeth and Tongues

Often, children who have difficulties with their tongues and teeth can find swallowing labored. If your child is developing an overbite or underbite, this might be an indication of the cause of their swallowing problems, says this professional dentist in Madison Heights MI. Similarly, if your child has a large tongue or tonsils in comparison to their mouth size, they might find swallowing difficult due to these body parts becoming mouth obstructions. Take your child to the doctors if you suspect this is an issue as certain solutions, such as tonsil removal, may be found.

Foreign Objects

Before you get nervous that your child could have a serious issue, it’s time to check that your child hasn’t swallowed anything they’re not supposed to. We all know children love to put whatever they can find in their mouths, so this is a very common cause for swallowing difficulties. Little objects such as a coin, a marble, or a small toy may have found their way into your child’s esophagus and have become jammed. In this case, do take them to the doctors as the removal of these objects can be tricky!

The internet can only tell you so much. If you are really concerned about your child’s swallowing, make sure you take them to the doctor for a check-up, even if it is just to put your mind at rest!