Why are baby teeth important? That’s a question pediatric dentists get a lot. Another one is: Why should I fix baby teeth if they are just going to fall out? Here are some reasons why baby teeth are important.
What is the purpose of a baby tooth?
- To hold space for the adult teeth. If a baby tooth is lost too early, then the other teeth will start moving into that space. That can then block the space for the adult tooth when it’s time to start coming in, which then causes crowding. The jaws will then not meet correctly because of teeth that are crooked.
- To chew and eat foods. It’s important for children to eat healthy foods in order to grow and gain strength. Children who have tooth decay will be less likely to eat foods that require chewing, like fresh vegetables and fruits.
- Stay healthy. When a child has tooth decay, it can then become infected which causes pain and fever. That infection can spread to other parts of the head and neck.
- For speech. Missing teeth can cause speech problems, since it can make it difficult to pronounce different sounds.
- Keeping adult teeth healthy. If a child’s baby teeth are not kept healthy, the adult teeth will be susceptible to cavities and dental problems.
- Self-confidence. A child who has cavities may tend to not smile or cover their mouth when talking. It can lead to other social issues and interactions with other children due to being self-conscious about crooked or unhealthy teeth.
When space loss occurs, there is no enough room for the adult tooth to erupt into alignment; this can cause tooth crowding.
Baby teeth
Did you know that your child’s teeth start forming before birth? They then start to erupt around 6 months of age.
Baby teeth will eventually be replaced by adult teeth. The process starts when a child is about 6 years old.
The importance of baby teeth
Your child’s baby teeth are important to their emotional, physical and social development. Tooth decay is preventable with proper dental care. And can keep your child in optimum oral health which will last a lifetime.
A PEDIATRIC DENTIST CAN HELP INSURE THAT YOUR CHILD’S TEETH AND GUMS STAY HEALTHY FROM THEIR FIRST TOOTH TO WHEN THEY GO TO COLLEGE.
Are you looking for a dental home for your child? Call us to schedule an appointment!
Call us and schedule your child’s appointment today: (702)586-4347
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