Many well-meaning parents and guardians mistakenly believe that they don’t need to worry about their child developing tooth decay in their primary teeth because they’ll eventually fall out anyway. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth because cavities are contagious.

Decay in their baby teeth can spread to their gums, jawbone, or permanent teeth before they arrive. Continue reading to learn more about the prevalence of tooth decay in still-developing smiles and how to protect your child’s dental well-being.

Most of the time, a baby tooth will simply fall out when it is ready. But in certain cases, it may need to be extracted in order to protect your child’s oral health. Why exactly do some baby teeth need to be removed? How can you make sure your child is ready for the procedure? And how can you help them take care of their mouth afterward? Here are the answers that parents need.