During dental cleanings for children in Manchester at CT Family Dentistry, parents often ask me this question. Most people think baby teeth aren’t very important because they are going to fall out anyway. You may be surprised to learn that there are several reasons why taking care of baby teeth is so essential.
If baby teeth are healthy, it is more likely the adult teeth will be healthy too. Parents who take care of their child’s baby teeth show the child that oral health is an important part of life. This will lead their children to develop healthy habits, like brushing and flossing.- Baby teeth hold space in the jaw for the adult teeth. When a baby tooth is lost prematurely, the teeth beside it may drift into the open space. Then when it is time for the adult teeth to come in, there may not be enough room. This will cause the adult teeth to be crowded and braces will be needed. Braces are definitely not cheap, so it’s in your best interest financially to make sure the baby teeth stay healthy for as long as possible.
- In addition to prematurely lost teeth, decayed baby teeth can also have lasting effects. Baby teeth that have been decayed so severely can cause pain and possibly result in a needed root canal. Not only is this procedure generally expensive, but more than likely it is a result of the child having extreme discomfort.
The best way to prevent any issues with baby teeth and proper oral health development is to make sure your child is receiving a regular six month check up. At our dental cleanings for children in Manchester, we start seeing our tiniest patients as soon as they get their first tooth! Give us a call to schedule an appointment today so we can help keep those baby teeth healthy and strong 🙂
