Why Are Baby Teeth So Important To Your Child’s Oral Health?

During their visits to our Wilsonville dentistry for kids, a lot of parents ask – “Why do I need to clean or get fillings on baby teeth? Won’t they just fall out?”

It might be tempting to skip flossing and brushing your child’s teeth at night. When you have to wrestle pants onto tiny, temperamental people all day, brushing teeth seems like just one more aggravating chore. But research indicates that poor childhood oral health is a predictor for lifelong problems with tooth decay and gum disease.

Oral Health Matters at Every Age

Just like an adult, babies and children need their teeth to eat, speak, and smile. Children with cavities find them just as painful as adults, and are unable to communicate as adults do. Moreover, baby teeth maintain space in the mouth for the permanent teeth. If a baby tooth falls out too early, other teeth might drift into the space. This can block permanent teeth and cause crooked tooth placement, which can affect proper oral and speech development and lead to the need for braces.

That’s why it’s important to start good oral hygiene habits early. Because it’s hard to tell when teeth might come in, it’s best to get into the habit of wiping your baby’s gums with a soft, wet washcloth as part of your daily routine. Around six months, your child’s first tooth will appear and you’ll need to start brushing twice a day.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that parents start bringing their kids into see a dentist shortly after their first teeth emerge or by the age of 1, whichever comes first. While this may seem like an early age to start visiting the dentist, these early visits allow us to ensure a child’s oral health development is heading in the right direction. Any problems that are noticed early on are easier to correct then when caught later in a child’s development.

Schedule Your Child’s Next Appointment at Our Wilsonville Dentistry for Kids

Don’t underestimate the importance of laying the foundation of quality oral health at a young age for your kids. When a kids enjoy strong teeth and healthy gums from a young age,
they have a much better chance of enjoying a great looking, healthy smile for a lifetime.

Make an appointment with at our Wilsonville dentistry for kids before your child’s first birthday! To schedule a new patient appointment, contact our office by calling 503-682-2110 or click here.