Baby Those Baby Teeth

Baby Those Baby Teeth

Baby teeth (properly called primary teeth) usually all fall out by the time your child is about 12 years old. Most, in fact, are gone years earlier. So, if baby teeth inhabit your child’s mouth for a relatively short time, why is their health so vitally important? The dental experts at WebMD recently provided some answers.

Healthy primary teeth . . .

. . . provide your child’s mouth and face with an essential element of “normal" appearance.
. . . keep spaces available for the permanent teeth to later erupt in their correct positions.
. . . are essential for speech development and clarity.
. . . let your child chew properly, which makes getting good nutrition easier.
. . . help ensure that the permanent teeth will emerge in a healthy condition.

 

Untreated decay in baby teeth can harm the permanent teeth growing beneath the gumline. If baby teeth are lost too soon because of decay, the adult teeth may grow in crooked or spaced too closely together. What’s more, untreated decay (also called cavities or caries) causes pain and can progress into an abscess that can cause infection to spread to other areas of your child’s body.

Preventing decay is relatively simple. The key: Limit contact between your child’s teeth and liquid carbohydrates—in other words, drinks with sugar. These include not only drinks like soda but also fruit juices, milk, formula and sweetened water.

Avoid laying your baby down for the night or a nap with a bottle that contains anything but plain water. The most common cause of decay in baby teeth occurs when the child is put to bed with a milk- or formula-filled bottle. In fact, early childhood caries is frequently called baby bottle tooth decay.

Before his or her first birthday, transition your child from a bottle to a sippy cup. This helps prevent liquids from settling on the teeth. Even with a sippy cup, however, sugary beverages are still less desirable than plain water. Resist adding sugar to food, and avoid coating a pacifier with sugar or honey.

Finally, after your child eats or drinks, wipe his or her gums with a wet cloth or gauze. Start using a toothbrush once the teeth erupt. This helps remove residue that can develop into bacteria-laden plaque, a precursor to decay.

Taking care of baby teeth helps ensure healthy adult teeth. Visit KiDDS Dental as soon as the first baby tooth erupts or by the age of 12 months. It’s never too early to start good oral care.