Your child’s baby teeth, also known as their primary teeth, are just going to fall out once they reach a certain age. So, why does taking care of them even matter? Do they even serve a purpose besides making your little one’s smile downright adorable? According to a pediatric dentist in Randolph, there are several reasons why you absolutely should take good care of your child’s baby teeth. Here are five of them.
1. Tooth Alignment and Position
Primary teeth save space in the mouth for permanent teeth and guide them into the proper position when it’s time for them to erupt. If a baby tooth is lost early, whether it’s due to decay or trauma, the surrounding teeth tend to drift into that space to try to fill it up. As a result, the adult tooth has less room to grow in. It could even erupt crookedly, which may require orthodontic treatment.
2. Healthy Permanent Teeth
The permanent teeth develop extremely close to the roots of the primary teeth. Baby teeth are smaller and have a thinner layer of enamel, so cavities can quickly spread to the underlying adult teeth. If these cavities are left untreated, the baby tooth can develop an infection or abscess that requires extensive treatment, which may include premature extraction.
3. Proper Health and Nutrition
The main purpose of teeth is to aid in chewing. If a tooth has a painful cavity and your child is unable to properly chew their food, they won’t absorb all the nutrients that they could. Their general nutrition will then suffer.
4. Speech and Facial Development
Your child’s lips, tongue, and cheeks deflect off their teeth when they talk. The presence and proper positioning of baby teeth helps your son or daughter help in the formation of sounds during speech. The structure of the teeth also provides support for the developing muscles in their face. It also gives shape to your little one’s face.
5. Concentration and Self-Esteem
If your child is having oral pain, it can negatively impact their ability to focus on schoolwork. Decayed or missing teeth can also affect their social life. For example, if they have a gap in their smile due to a severely decayed tooth that had to be extracted, other kids might make fun of them, lowering their self-esteem.
The bottom line is this: your child’s baby teeth aren’t useless. They serve several different purposes and you and your child should work together to establish good oral hygiene habits to take care of their pearly whites. Also, don’t forget to have them visit their pediatric dentist in Randolph regularly for checkups and cleanings.
About the Practice
At Simply Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, we make your child’s oral health a priority. That’s why we offer dental services, such as fluoride applications, dental sealants, and orthodontic treatment for little ones, from an infant’s first appointment through a high school student’s graduation. We’ll provide advice on how to take care of your child’s baby teeth to give them a powerful foundation for their permanent pearly whites. To learn more about how we can boost your son’s or daughter’s oral health, visit our website.