Do You Believe That Your Child's Baby Teeth Don't Matter?

Do you subscribe to the idea that your child's "baby teeth" don't really matter? Do you think that you don't need to pay as much care and attention to these particular teeth as you do to the permanent ones? If you think so, it's time for you to change your mind. What do you need to know?

Why the Confusion?

The misconception surrounding the importance of baby teeth is based on the fact that these teeth are short lived and will fall out anyway. While this is true, your child is nevertheless going through a vital developmental stage and nothing should be taken for granted. Certainly, if there are any issues connected with teeth, no matter what stage they are at, it needs to be investigated by your dentist.

Problems Carrying Forward

Parents who ignore cavities that may appear in the child's baby teeth are risking a future that may be full of unscheduled visits to the dentist. Many experts in the industry believe that kids who have a number of cavities in primary teeth will be much more prone to develop similar issues in the permanent replacements when they come along.

Of course, your permanent teeth are not meant to fall out and you have to get rid of any associated cavities. It's a good idea to treat any issues in the baby teeth as well, if there is any risk at all of the problem being carried through.

Bigger Problems

If tooth decay begins to get a hold then your children will have difficulty adjusting and growing normally. They may have a challenge when it comes to developing their speech patterns, or eating. They may find it difficult to focus when they go to school. Remember that untreated decay in any teeth can spread to the surrounding gums and cause an abscess. These are not any fun at all and can require an emergency visit to the dentist to treat.

Ignoring Nature

While it is true to say that the primary teeth are destined to fall out, they are only supposed to do that at the correct time. If you have ignored any early signs of decay and one of the teeth has to be removed by the dentist, there is a risk that the permanent one will erupt through the gums either at the wrong place, or with wrong alignment. This will present an additional challenge and may require some orthodontic visits in order to correct.

What You Can Do

All of these issues can be avoided if you pay attention to some basic oral care for your very young children. Restrict foods that contain high quantities of sugar, make sure that you clean the teeth comprehensively and properly and get to your dentist on schedule for all those important checkups.

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