Children's Dental Articles
Take Care of Those Baby Teeth!
Baby or primary teeth are going to fall out in a few years, so why should we take special care of them? Dr. Dean Meier, a Winnipeg Pediatric Dentist at Children's Dental Centre, says there are several important reasons. "Some primary teeth are in a child's mouth until they are 12 to 13 years old, so it is important to keep those teeth healthy. Primary teeth serve to hold the space for permanent teeth and to guide the proper eruption of the adult teeth". Keeping primary teeth in place and in healthy condition promotes normal growth and development of the bite as the face grows.
Dr. Meier also adds that baby teeth are important in allowing good pronunciation and speech habits. They also help maintain good nutrition by permitting children to chew properly. A cavity in a primary tooth can become a serious problem if it is not looked after. An untreated cavity can result in pain and infection, and may also affect the underlying permanent tooth.
With gentle brushing twice a day and regular visits to the dentist, baby teeth will remain in great shape by the time the tooth fairy comes.
Published in Winnipeg Parent Magazine
