“Why
should I have my child’s teeth fixed? Aren’t they just going to fall out
eventually?” This is an important question that we hear from many parents at
our dental office. Baby teeth, also known as primary teeth, are just as
important as permanent teeth. Baby teeth help kids chew and speak properly. Baby teeth also maintain space in the mouth to
allow the permanent teeth to erupt normally.
If a baby tooth is lost early or is missing, the permanent tooth in that
area may not come into the mouth in the right position, or may not erupt into
the mouth at all, leading to future dental problems.
The first baby tooth usually can
be seen in the mouth between 6 and 12 months of age. The American Dental Association recommends
that parents take their children to the dentist by the child’s first birthday.
Baby teeth are prone to decay,
pain, and infection in the same manner as permanent teeth. Even though baby teeth are eventually replaced
by permanent teeth, often kids as old as ten or twelve years of age still have
one or more of their baby teeth in their mouth.
Baby teeth are very important!
Keeping them healthy is a vital component to having a healthy and happy child.