Why is the health of the primary (baby) teeth so important?
Primary teeth (baby teeth) are going to fall out eventually. So, is infant and kids dental care really that important? The answer is: Yes. Baby teeth are extremely important:
- To help children learn to talk and pronounce words well
- To enable children to eat efficiently and get proper nutrition
- To give the face its normal appearance as the child grows
- To maintain the correct spacing and location for permanent teeth developing underneath
Most children begin losing baby teeth around the age of six, and usually all have been lost by age 12. During the transition period, baby teeth and permanent teeth reside in the mouth at the same time. It makes sense for the new permanent teeth to be in the company of healthy primary teeth to assure continuing good dental health.