There is no time to wait when it comes to oral hygiene. Your child’s first tooth will start to erupt about 8 to 12 months after birth and by the age of 3, just about all 20 primary teeth will grow in. Of course, all children will develop at different rates, but as soon as those teeth start to come in it is important to keep the mouth healthy.
Baby teeth are important for these key reasons:
1) As baby teeth start to come in, children start to eat chewable food. The baby teeth teach children how to eat their food properly and safely.
2) With the eruption of baby teeth comes the development of speech. The primary teeth help children learn to speak clearly and more easily. Teeth make it easier to pronounce certain letters and sounds.
3) Primary teeth are place-holders for the permanent teeth. As the permanent teeth grow within the gums, they will slowly emerge and replace the baby tooth right above it. Keeping the baby teeth healthy will help with proper alignment for the permanent teeth growing in.
4) Healthy baby teeth give your child a healthy looking smile. Nothing is sweeter than seeing your child smile.
Because all baby teeth will eventually fall out, many believe that taking care of baby teeth is not as essential as taking care of permanent teeth. However, it is very important to start healthy habits early when it comes to oral hygiene. A child’s future smile is impacted by the health of his or her primary teeth. Cavities and decays that are ignored on primary teeth will cause them to fall out prematurely which can cause improper tooth replacement. If children learn the significance of keeping the mouth healthy at an early stage, they are more likely to maintain proper oral hygiene as they grow up.
To ensure your child’s teeth are healthy, brush at least twice a day, introduce flossing between the teeth and visit your dentist every six months for a cleaning and check-up. To make an appointment with Dr. Brilgia, call (610) 692-4440.
