Are Baby Teeth Really Important?

Dentist Blog

Primary teeth, or baby teeth, might not seem that important, but they play a bigger role in your child's dental health than you realize. Therefore, taking care of them is crucial. If your child has baby teeth coming in, here is what you need to know about them and how you can care for them.

Why Do They Matter?

Baby teeth fall out within a few years after they first start to erupt, so some parents mistakenly believe that they are not that important. However, the teeth can act as a placeholder for your child's permanent teeth. Without them serving in this capacity, the adult teeth would not have the guidance needed to properly erupt. Your child could experience serious alignment issues with the permanent teeth as a result.

The baby teeth also help with chewing. If a child's baby teeth are not properly cared for and they start to decay, he or she could suffer from dietary deficiencies, which could lead to being underweight. Having the proper nutrition is also important to cognitive development.

In addition to these important roles, your child's baby teeth are necessary for his or her speech development. Without the teeth in the correct position, your child could have trouble with learning words, which could have an impact on him or her once prekindergarten and kindergarten are started.

What Can You Do to Care for Your Child's Teeth?

Even if your child only has one tooth that has erupted, you need to take steps to care for it. Brushing and flossing the child's teeth are important, but there is even more to caring for his or her dental health.

For instance, you must be careful what foods and beverages your child consumes. Sugary and acidic foods can cause the enamel on the teeth to deteriorate. Without the enamel present, your child's teeth are at risk of decaying.

You also need to avoid putting your child to sleep without brushing his or her teeth after a nighttime snack or milk. Breast milk and formula are sugary and can stick to the surface of the teeth. If your child has already fallen asleep, you can wipe his or her teeth and gums with a washcloth to avoid disturbing him or her and to remove the sticky substance.

Your child needs to see the dentist on a regular basis. The dentist can not only help to detect any problems early, but take preventative measures to protect your child's teeth. For instance, he or she can give your child fluoride treatments. Visit a site like http://www.mysunshinedentistry.com/ for more help
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8 August 2017