Many people think baby (primary) teeth are disposable because they will begin to fall out and be replaced by adult teeth later. This could not be further from the truth. Baby teeth are an essential part of the development of your child’s permanent smile and without a healthy start, your child can have oral health issues as teens and adults.
3 Important Functions of Baby Teeth
Here are three ways that your child’s baby teeth help them develop properly.
They Help Children Eat and Speak Properly
Baby teeth are essential to helping your little one maintain a healthy diet. Being able to eat a wide variety of foods – including crunchy fruits and veggies – are an important component to proper growing and development.
They Provide the Blueprint for Adult Teeth
Baby teeth are the guides that help adult teeth grow in properly. They hold the space needed to avoid conditions such as overcrowding or overlapping teeth. Premature loss of primary teeth may create misalignment, a poor bite, or even jaw disorders. While we can correct many of these conditions with orthodontics, it’s better to address them during the development phase.
They Give Kids Confidence
Losing too many teeth or having a mouth full of dentistry can make some kids feel self-conscious. It’s hard enough for some kids to fit in without having the additional challenge of missing teeth.
If you’re interested in finding a dental team that offers family dentistry in St. Paul, the Highgrove Dental Team looks forward to welcoming every member of your family. We treat kids as our special guests and strive to make each dental appointment stress-free and enjoyable, so they look forward to their visits to our office.
Good preventive care can help your little one enjoy a healthier and happier smile as a kid and as an adult.