Are Baby Teeth Really That Important?
Yes, they are! Baby teeth are often cast aside or deemed less important because they’re temporary and fall out with time. However, despite their short stay, they play a key role in your child’s oral development. This is why our Grandville pediatric dentists believe that starting oral hygiene habits young can result in a healthy smile down the road.
Here are 3 ways baby teeth make a difference in your child’s life and what you can do to keep them free of decay.
Your Child’s Baby Teeth:
1. Act as Placeholders for Incoming Adult Teeth
Humans develop two sets of teeth: primary (baby) and secondary (adult). The first round of teeth amount to 20 total and are small in size. When a child is about 6 years old, they will begin to lose their in order to make room for 32 permanent teeth waiting underneath the gum line.
Before their adult teeth come in, however, their baby teeth hold space in their jaws. If a tooth is lost prematurely, the open spot left behind can cause oral complications. Surrounding teeth wanting to drift into the area will result in crowding and block other permanent teeth from coming in.
Our pediatric dentists will recommend a space maintainer if your child has prematurely lost a tooth. This dental appliance works to leave the space open until the adult tooth is ready to erupt.
2. Help Them When Learning to Speak
Think of someone who hasn’t yet put their false teeth in. They’re a little hard to understand, right? This is because teeth help with the formation of words. Your tongue, lips, and teeth all work together to allow for words to be spoken by controlling airflow out of the mouth.
The existence and positioning of a aid in their pronunciation. For example, when their tongue strikes their teeth or the roof of their mouth, they learn to make a certain sound. Over time, they use their baby teeth to speak full sentences and communicate effectively. Without teeth at all, they would not be able to do this.
3. Can Impact The Health of Their Body
Strong, healthy teeth are crucial when it comes to your child’s ability to chew. When teeth are decayed, proper eating becomes harder and nutritional deficiencies can occur.
Moreover, if an untreated infection arises in one or multiple teeth, it can spread to other areas of the body and possibly be life-threatening. Avoid scary medical complications altogether by encouraging your child to brush their teeth at least twice a day and floss daily. The application of dental sealants by our pediatric dentists can also help fend off unwanted cavities.
Healthy teeth beget a healthy body so it’s imperative that you help your child form productive oral hygiene habits on their own.
Prioritize Oral Health Now for a Healthier Future
Don’t count baby teeth out just because they don’t hang around forever. Our pediatric dentists in Grandville, MI, encourage parents or guardians to make sure children regularly brush, floss, and receive professional teeth cleanings every 6 months. To request an appointment, call Grandville Pediatric Dentistry at (616) 531-3430 today.