Losing a baby tooth is honest to goodness evidence that your child is growing up. It’s exciting!
Taking good care of those primary teeth before they fall out is an important part of your child’s development. If primary teeth fall out anyway, why is it important to treat cavities and other issues? Regular check-ups, brushing and flossing, and all the factors involved in primary dentition are important because caring for primary teeth will help your child become a happy, healthy adult.
Here are some of the most important reasons to treat and maintain primary teeth.
1. Treat Issues Before They Become Permanent Problems
Cavities can quickly spread through primary teeth because of their small size. Untreated, these issues can lead to infections or abscesses, which may damage the permanent teeth developing underneath.
2. Straight and Well-Formed Smiles
Primary teeth guide permanent teeth into the correct position. If your child loses a baby tooth through tooth decay or injury, then that position is no longer reserved. Other teeth could drift into the open space, which can result in a crooked smile.
However, if this happens your dentist may be able to correct the problem. Space-maintaining devices can save the space left by missing primary teeth.
3. Promote Good Nutrition
We often think about making our teeth look nicer, but sometimes forget that they have a job to do. Cavities can make chewing painful and discourage kids from forming healthy eating habits. In contrast, a healthy set of teeth will promote good chewing motions and a more nutritious diet.
4. Promote Speech Development
Teeth also help us speak clearly! They interact with the tongue, cheeks, and lips as we make the myriad of sounds present in language. Well developed teeth will leave enough room for the tongue and allow your child to practice correct pronunciation.
5. Facial Development
Good tooth structure will help support your child’s developing facial muscles and help give shape to your child’s face.
6. Build Confidence
Bad breath follows from tooth decay. Crooked smiles and hindered speech can cause self-consciousness. Tooth pain distracts from both classwork and play. Supporting healthy primary dentition through regular treatment and maintenance, however, can help avoid these problems. Instead, your child can focus on school, friends, and family. Taking care of your child’s primary teeth is a great way to support their sense of confidence.
7. Establish Good Oral Health Habits Early On
You can start caring for your child’s oral health in their infancy. Before the first tooth emerges, you should wipe your baby’s gums with a clean cloth. Then, when primary teeth become visible, use a very small bit of specially formulated toothpaste.
Just like adults, children should brush and floss twice a day and visit the dentist for regular check-ups. Setting this routine early on will help your child maintain good oral hygiene and ensure that healthy primary teeth turn into healthy permanent teeth.
It’s important to find a good fit for you and your child when you start investing in primary dental care. Please contact us if you would like to start your child on the path to good oral health and support your child’s primary dentition!