Top Five Reasons why Baby Teeth are Important

A baby's first set of teeth is already fully developed below the gum line at birth; the first teeth typically start to show at six months of age, and by three years old, most children have their full set of baby teeth. People tend to think of these teeth as just a temporary set that aren't too important, but the truth is, baby teeth have a number of essential functions. 

Nutrition and health

Many children can start to eat small amounts of pureed solid food by six months, and are often ready for textured pureed foods that require minimal chewing by eight months. In order for a young child to get the nutrition they need for age-appropriate growth, they need strong, healthy teeth as they learn to chew. Good oral hygiene is important before the appearance of their very first tooth as gum health plays an important role too. 

Speech development

Speech is something that we learn as young children with seemingly little effort, but in fact it's an incredibly complex process that requires the presence of baby teeth. Teeth help the tongue position properly during pronunciation. Without them, children and adults alike find it difficult to make certain sounds—think, for example, of the characteristic lisp that develops when the front baby teeth are lost.

Correct placement of adult teeth 

After birth, as the baby teeth grow into place, a second set—the adult teeth—form underneath them. As each baby tooth is lost, the corresponding adult tooth emerges in its place, and is guided into the correct position by the adjoining baby teeth. If any of the baby teeth are lost early, they're unable to provide the necessary guidance for adjacent adult teeth. This is perhaps the most important function of this first set of teeth, as without them, adult teeth are more likely to develop alignment problems.

Help your child learn about oral hygiene

Even though baby teeth are important on their own merits for all of the above reasons, they're also useful because they help your child understand the importance of good oral hygiene. It's important that we not think of baby teeth as a "throwaway set." The fact that there's another set of up-and-coming teeth is extremely useful—it means your child has the chance to learn how to properly take care of their permanent teeth before they actually arrive.

Build self-esteem

Having strong teeth is important for helping your child develop good self-esteem; with straight, healthy teeth they'll be happy to smile without feeling self-conscious.

Your Colorado Springs family dentist works with parents to instill good oral hygiene habits into their young patients. Please contact our office to schedule your child’s next visit with Dr. Jackson Anderson.

Why a Family Dentist Makes a Difference

According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, around 1 in 5 American children and teenagers have one or more untreated cavity. Sometimes it's due to lack of access to healthcare, and sometimes, it's just because children and teens aren't visiting their family dentist often enough or lack of caring of their teeth at home. Seeing the family dentist at least twice a year can make a big difference in a child's oral health, and lays the foundations for a lifetime of good oral health.

Family dentists typically provide four different kinds of services: education, prevention, monitoring, and treatment.

Education

The purpose of education is two-fold: first, it helps people manage the at-home aspect of oral health. This is especially important for new parents who aren't experienced with home care of an infant's teeth. Oral care starts early, even before the first baby teeth appear, so it's important that new parents know how to take care of their child's gums and teeth. For young children, education helps reinforce the importance of good oral hygiene, as well as the importance of regular dental visits.

The second aspect of education is giving people the information they need to make informed choices about their oral care. This is important for children as well as adults, because it helps children take responsibility for their health, and with this comes the motivation they need to maintain good oral hygiene habits into adulthood.

Prevention

The idea of prevention is simple: it's by far the best way of managing oral health, because it focuses on preventing problems, rather than treating them if they occur. Regular checkups and professional cleanings ensure that teeth remain healthy and strong, reduce the likelihood of problems like cavities and gum disease, and also mean that if problems do develop, they are discovered early on and treated quickly. A family dentist can also provide other preventative services, like fluoride treatment and tooth sealants, to protect vulnerable baby teeth from decay. 

Monitoring

Certain dental concerns don't need immediate treatment, but instead require careful monitoring to determine if treatment might be needed at a later date. For example, if a child's teeth begin to show signs of misalignment their dentist might monitor the situation rather than recommend immediate treatment. 

Treatment

When treatment is required, the family dentist is there to provide it, including fillings, extractions, and other services that repair tooth decay and damage, as well as long-term treatments such as spacers and mouth guards for athletes. 

Oral Care for Life and Health

Good general health starts with good oral health, because you need a good set of strong, healthy teeth for eating a varied diet necessary for proper energy and nutrition. But that's not all; healthy teeth are important for speech, for a beautiful smile, and for the enhanced self-confidence that comes along with it. Regular visits to your family dentist—for you and your family—are the best way to make sure you can all enjoy these benefits for years to come.

Jackson L Anderson, DDS is a family dentist in Colorado Springs. Contact the office to schedule an appointment or to find out more about oral health care for your loved ones.