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But They Are Baby Teeth…. Won’t They Just Fall Out?
But They Are Baby Teeth…. Won’t They Just Fall Out?
Often people think that baby (primary) teeth don’t really matter because they will just eventually fall out. The truth is that baby teeth do matter and play a very important role in a child’s social, physical & emotional development.
Healthy baby teeth help achieve good nutrition through proper chewing. When children are suffering from dental pain, it can make eating very difficult and unpleasant.
Aids in proper speech development. Teeth play an important role for tongue and lip placement needed for correct annunciation.
Leaving cavities untreated in baby teeth can lead to spreading of decay to the permanent teeth.
Having a beautiful smile can help build self-esteem. Children with tooth decay or loss tend to shy away from social situations. This can cause them to develop low self-esteem.
Children with tooth decay,pain or loss can cause distraction in learning situations. When children are suffering from tooth pain, it can make it very difficult to focus on any school lessons.
Oral infections can often affect the child’s health and cause absence from school.
Primary teeth are needed for proper development and placement of adult (permanent)teeth by holding the space in the jaw. If a baby tooth is lost too soon, it can lead to crowding of adult teeth, which can affect the bite alignment negatively.
The bottom line is that you should care for your child’s baby teeth as if they were adult teeth, to help them get a healthy start and a smile that will last into their adulthood.
