How Important Are Baby Teeth?

Many parents assume that because baby teeth are replaced as kids grow up, they aren’t as important as adult teeth. However, this is not the case! Maintaining your children’s oral health is very important. Teaching your children the importance of regular check-ups and good oral health habits help create a lasting routine. There are also a number of other reasons to look after baby teeth:

• Speech Development

Your child’s mouth, lips and teeth form a vital part of their speech development. Having a full set of baby teeth affects speech as they help control the air flow and the tongue strikes teeth in certain ways. Without a full set of baby teeth, speech development will be affected.

• Saving Space for Adult Teeth

Baby teeth hold space for adult teeth. If teeth are missing, or fall out too soon due to poor oral hygiene, the adult teeth above them will begin to move out of line. This can cause adult teeth to come through misaligned and crooked.

• Health and Overall Development

Oral hygiene has an impact on the overall health and development of your children. Cavities and tooth decay will cause pain and discomfort for your children, impacting their daily life. Not only this, but infections can damage the gums and surrounding teeth, having a lasting negative impact on oral and general health.

Therefore, looking after your children’s baby teeth is just as important as looking after your own! Read our tips on looking after children’s teeth here.