As parents, you lay the foundation for healthy permanent teeth during the first years of your child’s life. Daily brushing, regular dental checkups, and healthy eating habits are the cornerstones of good oral care. Establishing a good routine early in life ensures that your child develops strong, healthy teeth and gums. It’s easy to assume that baby teeth don’t require as much care because they’re temporary, but these teeth are still vital to your child’s health.
The role of primary teeth
Your child’s baby teeth start to come in at around six months of age. Think of this temporary set of teeth as an investment. By taking good care of your child’s baby teeth, you’re investing in the future of their oral health.
Your child’s first set of teeth play an important role in their development in the following ways:
Speech – Good oral health is crucial during speech development. As your child learns to speak and say words clearly, the position of their teeth becomes important. Teeth that are missing, misaligned, or misshapen due to poor oral health can interfere with your child’s speech development.
Nutrition – Children who have cavities and other oral health problems are less likely to enjoy eating certain healthy foods. It’s difficult enough to get children to eat nutritious foods, but if their gums are inflamed due to lack of care, you may wind up battling nutrient deficiencies.
Guide for permanent teeth – Most children won’t begin to develop their permanent teeth until about age six. Until then it’s important for parents to understand that the health of primary teeth influence their permanent set. When baby teeth are damaged by decay, they’re unable to provide an appropriate guide for permanent teeth.
Why good care of primary teeth is crucial
Prevents tooth decay – When it comes to baby teeth, you may assume that tooth decay isn’t a concern, but nothing could be further from the truth. Did you know that more than 40% of children have at least one cavity in their baby teeth? If your child’s mouth is filled with cavity-causing bacteria, their permanent teeth are at risk.
Keeps gums healthy – The same bacteria that can eat away at your child’s primary teeth can also harm their gums. When decay goes untreated, bacteria spread to the gums and cause inflammation. If overlooked, the bacteria can damage bone and structures that hold the teeth in place.
Teaches good oral hygiene – Taking care of your child’s primary teeth teaches them good oral health habits. Kids who understand the importance of good oral health tend to take better care of their teeth as they grow into adolescence and adulthood.
How to take excellent care of baby teeth
Start early – You don’t have to wait until your child’s primary teeth come in to start taking care of their oral health. Wiping their gums after feedings with a warm, damp cloth helps keep their mouth clean and healthy.
Schedule regular checkups – It’s recommended that you schedule your child’s first checkup by their first birthday. Your child’s dentist will perform a kid-friendly dental exam to ensure that their primary teeth and their gums are healthy. You should schedule a dental checkup every six months.
Brush daily – Once your child’s baby teeth have grown in, you can begin brushing them twice a day with an infant toothbrush and a smidgen of baby toothpaste – about the size of a grain of rice.
The sooner you begin taking care of your children’s oral health, the healthier their mouths will continue to stay throughout their lives. Bring your child to Meadowbrook Dental Care for comprehensive dental care that lasts a lifetime.
We currently offer a children’s dental hygiene special for new patients that includes a kid-friendly exam, cleaning, polishing, and X-rays for $100. Call today to schedule your child’s checkup or use our online booking tool.