The Tribune

By DR TAMIKA FERGUSON

HOW important is the care of baby teeth?

Some people have this misconception that primary teeth are not important. They believe since these teeth will fall out eventually, so there is no need to take proper care of them.

This is a false way of thinking. Primary teeth are just as important as permanent teeth. Parents should stress proper oral care to their children.

Baby teeth are necessary for a child to chew and speak. They help to break up food into smaller pieces, which aids digestion. A complete set of teeth are necessary for the proper pronunciation of words.

While these are essential points, baby teeth also serve another very important purpose - they hold the space and help to guide the permanent teeth into position. If a baby tooth is lost before its time, this will leave an empty space. The teeth adjacent to this space will drift, possibly not leaving enough room for the permanent successor to emerge into its proper position. The new permanent tooth may erupt out of alignment and can affect positioning of other teeth.

Premature loss of primary teeth can cause crowding or poor alignment of your permanent teeth, leading to future complications. Poorly aligned teeth are difficult to clean, have a higher chance of developing caries and may later require orthodontic treatment.

Proper care of primary teeth is also important because it serves as an indication of how a child will treat their permanent teeth. The foundation of healthy permanent teeth is laid during the first years of life. Therefore, it is essential to establish a proper oral hygiene routine and dietary habits early in life to ensure development of strong and healthy teeth.

It is the job of the parent to take their child’s oral health seriously. Parents play a major role in helping their children establish a proper oral hygiene routine. They need to make sure their children are brushing and flossing properly. Parents should brush their children’s teeth until they have developed proper motor skills. Even then, the parent should supervise and re-brush any difficult areas for the child.

Parents should also take their children to visit the dentist regularly. A child’s first visit to a dentist should not be when the child is experiencing pain. At a young age children should be introduced to the dental environment and they should have their routine cleanings and evaluations twice a year. By being a regular dental attendee this will reduce dental anxiety and help to build trust between the child and his/her dentist.

Parents should not use the dentist as a scare tactic or disciplinary means, for example, “If you don’t behave I’ll take you to the dentist to get a needle”. Always speak positively about the dental environment.

If a child learns the proper habits in childhood then these practices will continue into adolescence and adulthood.

To answer the question, taking care of baby teeth is of vital importance.