Why are baby teeth so important?
Ans : It is very important to maintain the health of the baby teeth. Neglected cavities can and frequently do lead to problems, which affect developing permanent teeth. Baby teeth are important for (1) proper chewing and eating, (2) providing space for the permanent teeth and guiding them into the correct position, and (3) permitting normal development of the jaw bones and muscles. Primary teeth also affect the development of speech and add to an attractive appearance. While the front 4 upper and lower teeth last until 6-7 years of age, the back teeth (cuspids and molars) arent replaced until age 10-13. Also, if decay currently exists in your childs mouth, allowing it to continue can damage permanent teeth, spread infection to other areas of the body, and can even cause death.
Primary teeth are important because they help with proper chewing and eating, help in speech development, and add to an attractive appearance. Healthy baby teeth allow normal development of the jaws and muscles, and save space for the permanent adult teeth and guide them into place. If a baby tooth is lost too soon the teeth can shift and the adult teeth will become impacted in the jaws necessitating surgery and costly orthodontics. Decayed baby teeth can cause pain, abscesses and infections that can spread to and damage the adult permanent teeth. Also your child’s general health can be affected, if diseased baby teeth are not treated. Remember some baby teeth are not replaced until age 10-14, so they must last for years.
Baby teeth are of great importance as they path the way for proper growth and development of the jaw. They also maintain space for the adult teeth and are beneficial in speech development and eating. Premature loss of baby teeth can lead to the need for Orthodontic treatment later in a child’s life.
