Do baby teeth really matter when they fall out and get replaced anyway? The simple answer is yes!
Baby teeth may be temporary but caring for them is one of the crucial ways in making sure your little ones keep a healthy smile for life. As parents, we should prevent our child’s teeth from getting decayed or damaged. Here’s why.
Your baby’s teeth are the natural space maintainers for their permanent teeth.
Losing a baby tooth early can cause the adjacent teeth to drift into the space left behind (the area of less resistance). When this happens, there will be no space for the permanent tooth to grow. In the future, this may cause malocclusions which means having crooked teeth or a poor “bite.”
The root of the baby tooth is the pathway that guides the new permanent tooth to erupt.
Basically, when the new tooth erupts, it gradually dissolves the roots of the baby tooth and then comes and replaces it. That’s why when a baby tooth falls, you only see a crown and you don’t see the roots.
Children between the age 6 and 12 have “mixed dentition” which means they will have some baby teeth and some permanent teeth.
Bacteria by nature is contagious and it spreads, so all the teeth, baby and new, are pooling in the same saliva. If your baby’s milk teeth are infected by bad bacteria, the permanent teeth are also at risk of getting cavities.
6 practical ways to take care of your child’s baby teeth
- As soon as a tooth erupts, start brushing with a smear of fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss your child’s teeth daily as soon two teeth touch each other.
- Don't let your baby fall asleep with a bottle of milk or juice.
- Avoid non-nutritive habits including thumb sucking and the use of pacifiers.
- Limit the sweets and treats you give your child and be sure to clean their teeth after having a snack.
- Take your child to a pediatric dentist for regular check-ups every six months.
