Your child’s baby teeth are more important than you might think. While they do eventually fall out on their own, they set the foundation for what will become a mouth full of permanent teeth. If they are to remain healthy, though, it’s necessary to establish good oral hygiene habits early on. Keep reading to discover three key reasons why it’s important to take proper care of these initial pearly whites.
Baby Teeth Establish Good Chewing and Eating Habits
Although your baby will start with a gummy smile, consuming either formula or breastmilk, eventually, their primary teeth will erupt, and their diet will expand. If their pearly whites have cavities, it may cause them to have difficulty eating certain foods.
However, healthy pearly whites allow for proper digestion, as your child will be able to bite down and chew each piece without any pain.
Baby Teeth Allow Your Child to Speak Clearly
Your child’s baby teeth play an important role in how they speak. Those that are evenly spaced, free of cavities, and appropriately aligned will produce proper sounds and words. Those that are not may struggle to create certain syllables or have a lisp.
Bite misalignment, gaps, and crowded teeth can all affect a child’s speech patterns, which is why it’s important to seek the help of a trusted pediatric dentist. Their available services and treatment options can address these issues early on and reduce the potential impact on your child’s ability to speak.
Baby Teeth Help with Oral and Facial Development
It takes a few years for all of your child’s baby teeth to fully erupt. By the age of three, all of them should be in place. The placement of each tooth can aid in proper oral and facial development (i.e., jawbones, muscles, etc.) so that once they fall out, permanent teeth can move swiftly into place.
If you notice that your child’s baby tooth falls out too early, do not wait to see a dentist for help. Having a space maintainer inserted can prevent teeth on either side from shifting out of place and causing an alignment issue as well as minimize the chances of an incoming crooked tooth.
A trusted pediatric dentist can help your child establish good oral hygiene habits at an early age as well as provide helpful tips to keep these teeth healthy until they are ready to fall out on their own.
About the Author
Dr. Adam Preece is a board-certified pediatric dentist who earned his dental degree at The Ohio State University. He is dedicated to providing exceptional service, compassionate care, and a fun and exciting environment for patients of all ages. He understands the challenges many parents face when attempting to take care of their child’s baby teeth. It is why he will partner with individuals to not only offer tips for better at-home oral hygiene but also take care of these primary pearly whites using the best techniques and products available. If you want to know what you can do to safeguard your child’s baby teeth, visit our website or call (972) 309-9992 to learn more.