Why Is It Important to Save Baby Teeth?

Do you know people who save children’s baby teeth? If so, you probably wonder why. Some parents do this as a way of holding on to something that was part of the infant’s life. However, there are other reasons it is important to save baby teeth.

What are baby teeth?

At around the age of six months, infants’ teeth start to erupt. Known as “baby teeth,” there are usually 20 in all. Children use these teeth as they learn to eat and formulate words. As kids get older, these teeth fall out, with permanent or adult teeth replacing them. Typically, by the age of 21, adults have all of their 32 permanent teeth.

Why save them?

Most people have no idea that baby teeth have a hidden gem inside in the form of stem cells. For that reason, it is common for a pediatric dentist to urge parents to hold onto teeth when they fall out. Thanks to advanced medicine, dental professionals know that people can benefit from stem cells later in life. In fact, these cells can treat a broad range of medical conditions.

Advantages of saving baby teeth

Considering that baby teeth are a rich source of stem cells, parents should save them. If a child develops an illness at some point, those cells could be the required solution. Simply put, medical and dental professionals can use the stem cells found in baby teeth to grow other tissue. Not only does that help from a medical standpoint, but a dental one as well.

Typically, a pediatric dentist can extract the stem cells and harvest them from the pulp inside of baby teeth. With that done, a dentist recommends for parents to keep them in a tooth bank. There, the pulp remains in a controlled environment, preserving the precious cells. Since this type of bank cryogenically freezes the stem cells, they usually last 20 years, often longer.

Along with the baby teeth, a pediatric dentist suggests that parents do the same thing with wisdom teeth. These too are a rich source of stem cells. Even healthy molars provide the same benefit. Instead of tossing teeth out as some parents do, it makes more sense to have the pulp of baby teeth harvested.

How do stem cells help?

The stem cells taken from baby teeth, wisdom teeth, and even healthy molars help fight an array of illnesses. For example, if people develop some types of cancer, there is a good chance of the cells saving their lives. Stem cells also help treat Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. If a child needs a bone marrow transplant, the stems cells would be of tremendous value.

The importance of primary teeth

Primary teeth are crucial for every individual. Teeth develop with the fetus inside the mother’s womb and stay in the jawbone until the moment of eruption. That is why it is a red-letter occasion when baby teeth emerge. Healthy primary teeth help with the child’s speech development and eating habits. These teeth also preserve the dental spaces until the permanent teeth erupt and help support the child’s facial structure.

Cleaning the child’s mouth when primary teeth emerge

Parents know how important baby teeth are. Cleaning the child’s mouth is a vital component in preventing decay and infection. Doing this at least twice every day can remove food particles and bacteria. This should be a ritual between parent and child. The mood should always be comfortable. Using a clean cloth or gauze pad dipped in warm water is enough to do the job.

A small toothbrush can replace the cloth once the baby teeth start to come in. Brushing in a circular motion and then back and forth can clean all the dental surfaces. Brushing the tongue with the toothbrush can remove the plaque sticking there. Children at least three years old can use fluoride toothpaste. A pea-sized amount of it is enough. Even if the child swallows it, it will not cause bodily harm.

Preventing tooth decay

Baby teeth can decay easily. The enamel layer on primary teeth is much thinner than on adult teeth. This means that these teeth should receive extra care. Below are some tips to prevent dental decay:

• Refraining from giving the baby a bottle of milk during bedtime
• Removing the bottle or breast once the baby falls asleep while feeding
• Weaning the baby from a bottle when the child reaches a year old
• Avoiding on-demand feedings and night feedings

Talk to a pediatric dentist

As a parent, you want to do everything possible to keep your children healthy. One way to accomplish that is by saving their baby teeth. You can talk to a pediatric dentist about which tooth bank to use. Something as simple as baby teeth could save your child’s life.

Request an appointment here: https://www.hvkidsmiles.com or call Hudson Valley Pediatric Dentistry at (845) 363-4177 for an appointment in our Middletown office.

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