Baby teeth are important
Email
Print
Letter to Editor
Share
Updated: September 09, 2009 4:22 PM
Dentists are often asked by parents, “Why are baby teeth so important?”
Keeping baby teeth healthy is important because some of these teeth may remain in the mouth until your children are 12 or 13 years old.
Baby teeth help children to chew properly and to speak clearly. They also save space for the developing adult teeth under the gum so that when it is time for them to erupt, they will appear in the proper positions in the mouth.
If tooth decay occurs, the child may experience pain and could develop an infection, such as an abscess. Children with toothache may have problems eating, sleeping and focusing in school. A child with visible decay may become self-conscious and not want to smile or laugh.
Tooth decay can be prevented. Here are some tips:
– Brush your child’s teeth at least twice a day – after breakfast and before bed. Use a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste and encourage kids not to swallow. Help your child brush until at least age nine. Replace the toothbrush every three months and use a new toothbrush after you’ve had a cold.
– Help your child floss his/her teeth once a day. Ease floss in between the teeth. Curve the floss around the tooth at the gumline and gently sweep up and down.
– Do not put a child to bed with a bottle containing formula, milk, juice or soda. Unswallowed sweet liquids in the mouth support bacteria that attack the teeth.
– Eat smart. Food with sugar or starch is safer for the teeth if it is eaten with a meal, not as a snack. Limit snacking to no more than two or three times a day.
– Information provided by Dr. Phoebe Tsang
v2
