Importance of Caring for Baby Teeth
If baby teeth are bound to fall out, then you may think it doesn’t really matter how well you take care of them. This is definitely not the case, and is unfortunately a common myth! While baby teeth aren’t here to stay forever, there are many reasons why it’s important to care for baby teeth.
Cavities & Infection
Just like with permanent teeth, baby teeth are also vulnerable to cavities and infection. Not only can this be painful, but it can also affect the health of the permanent teeth due to come in as well as your child’s immune system. That’s why it’s crucial to make sure your little one develops healthy dental habits from a young age, and that you help them keep their teeth clean (even if they have just one or two!).
Speech Development
It’s not just your tongue and lips that are helping you form sounds and words. Your teeth also play a crucial role in speech development. Having baby teeth in the right position helps with forming proper pronunciation, so it’s helpful to make sure your child doesn’t lose their baby teeth early due to poor oral hygiene.
Guide for Permanent Teeth
Aside from helping with chewing and speaking, baby teeth serve another important function: They serve as a guide for where permanent teeth come in. If your child loses their baby teeth early, it may change how the permanent teeth erupt, resulting in misalignment. Essentially, baby teeth are saving space for adult teeth, and without them as placeholders, the nearby teeth can slightly drift into that gap, blocking the permanent teeth that need to erupt there.
Children’s Dental Care at Three Creek Dentistry
Do you need some help managing your little one’s dental care? Three Creek Dentistry would love to be there for you and your family! We provide children’s dentistry so we’re more than happy to answer any questions you might have. Just call or email us today to set up an appointment. We welcome adults and children at our practice in Derwood.