Why Baby Teeth Matter: Insights from a Kids Dentist

A kids dentist knows how crucial baby teeth are to a child's current and future health. Some mistakenly believe that baby teeth are less important because they eventually fall out and are replaced with adult teeth. Therefore, parents must understand baby teeth' vital role in their child's oral health and development to help ensure children receive proper dental care.

About baby teeth

Also known as primary teeth, baby teeth erupt around six months. All 20 are usually fully in place by age three. Around age six, primary teeth start to fall out as the permanent (adult) teeth replace them. Typically, this process is completed by about age 12 or 13, not counting the wisdom teeth, which come in much later, between 18 and 21.

Reasons baby teeth are important

When baby teeth deviate too much from the above schedule, like when they fall out prematurely, this can cause problems for kids' dental health. Here is a closer look at why.

Chewing function

Children need their baby teeth for chewing to get proper nutrition while growing and developing. Without adequate healthy baby teeth, a child may struggle to break down their food properly or get a balanced diet. Additionally, proper chewing function is essential for the healthy development of a child's maxillofacial muscles.

Speaking function

When children have their baby teeth, they are also learning to speak. The presence of teeth plays an important part in pronunciation. If a child is missing these baby teeth too early, they may develop pronunciation problems such as lisping.

Dental health issues

The baby teeth can affect the health and proper eruption of adult teeth. First, tooth decay in baby teeth can threaten gum health as well as the health of adult teeth. Second, early loss of baby teeth can cause the surrounding teeth to shift to fill the space, throwing off the smile's alignment. Finally, misalignment of the baby teeth can throw off the alignment and proper eruption of adult teeth.

How to keep baby teeth healthy

A pediatric dentist is likely to recommend the following to help ensure these teeth remain healthy until they are replaced by adult teeth.

Regular dental visits

Children should start seeing a dentist within six months of the eruption of their first tooth or by age one. After this first appointment, kids should continue to see a dentist at least once every six months. At these appointments, a pediatric dentist can teach the child about proper dental hygiene, keep children's teeth clear of plaque and tartar buildup, and check for early warning signs of dental problems.

Preventive treatments

A kids dentist may recommend certain preventive services for common childhood dental problems. For example, baby teeth have weaker enamel than adult teeth. Therefore, a dentist will likely recommend regular flouride treatments to provide additional protection agains cavities and dental damage. Additionally, a kids dentist can provide a child with a space maintainer if they lose a baby tooth too early. The space maintainer helps maintain the smile alignment and proper eruption of the adult tooth.