Why are baby teeth so important?
Many parents have been led to believe that baby teeth don’t need to be restored if affected by decay. Yes, these teeth will eventually fall out. However, the average age for a child’s first primary tooth to fall out is 6-8 years of age and the last one between 11-13 years of age. If a primary tooth has been affected by decay and not treated properly it can result in the damage of a permanent tooth. Primary teeth play a vital role in your child’s growth and development. These teeth act as a guide for the permanent teeth to come into the mouth in the best possible position. If a tooth is prematurely lost before the permanent tooth is ready to come in, the nearby teeth can tip or move into the vacant space. When this happens, the permanent teeth may come in malpositioned.
Primary teeth are important because they help with proper chewing and eating, help in speech development and add to an attractive appearance. A child who can chew easily, speak clearly and smile confidently is a happier child. Healthy primary teeth allow normal development of the jaw bones and muscles, save space for the permanent teeth and guide them into place. If a baby tooth is lost too soon, permanent teeth may come in crooked. Decayed baby teeth can cause pain, abscesses, infections, and can spread to the permanent teeth and other areas in the body. Also, your child’s general health can be affected if diseased baby teeth aren’t treated. Remember, some primary molars are not replaced until age 10-14, so they must last for years.
A. Baby, or primary teeth, are important for several reasons. Proper speech development depends on healthy, fully developed baby teeth, especially the top teeth. Baby teeth are critical for the proper development and positioning of the permanent teeth. They also allow for healthy bone and gum formation long term. A healthy smile is important for a child’s social development and sensitive, painful teeth can prevent a child from eating a proper diet.
Primary teeth (also called deciduous teeth) are important because they help with proper chewing and eating, help in speech development and add to an attractive appearance. A child who can chew easily, speak clearly and smile confidently is a happier child. Healthy primary teeth allow normal development of the jaw bones and muscles, save space for the permanent teeth and guide them into place. If a baby tooth is lost too soon, permanent teeth may come in crooked. Decayed baby teeth can cause pain, abscesses, infections, and can spread to the permanent teeth. Also, your child’s general health can be affected if diseased baby teeth aren’t treated. Remember, some primary molars are not replaced until age 10-14, so they must last for years. What should I tell my child about the first dental visit? We are asked this question many times. We suggest you prepare your child the same way that you would before their first hair-cut or trip to the shoe store.
The first baby tooth or primary tooth is not lost until 6 years of age, and the back baby molars are not lost until 9 to 12 years of age. Primary teeth are necessary for proper chewing, speech, development of the jaws and for esthetics. Care of the primary teeth is important not only for function, but also to avoid a number of unpleasant conditions that can result from their neglect.
