Why Is It Important That Children Take Care Of their Primary Teeth?

By Lan Tran | Published on November 22, 2011 | 0 Comments

Parents need to help their children take good care of their primary teeth to prevent early childhood caries, more commonly known as cavities. According to Dr. Lan M. Tran of Tran Dental in San Antonio, a dentist can only do so much to help prevent children from getting cavities. The bulk of the responsibility falls on the shoulders of parents and children themselves.

One misunderstanding that some parents have about baby teeth is that they don’t really matter, since they will fall out eventually on their own. This, says Dr. Tran, is a misconception that needs to be nipped in the bud. Although primary teeth will not stay in the mouth forever, they do serve an important purpose during a child’s formative years. Ideally, a child’s baby teeth should stay in the mouth – cavity free, of course – for several years. Many children do not lose their last primary teeth until the age of 12.

During this time, the primary teeth do several things. First and foremost, the primary teeth keep the space available in the mouth for the adult teeth to eventually come in. Losing primary teeth prematurely will cause problems later on when a child’s adult teeth have difficulty coming down naturally.

Additionally, Dr. Tran says that children should know that rapid decay of the teeth will cause them to need to get multiple restorative treatments done before they reach adulthood. In some cases, children who have extensive decay may even have to get some of their teeth extracted or removed.

Nonetheless, Dr. Tran says that the most important reason why children need to take excellent care of their primary teeth is to keep them in place for as long as possible. By keeping them healthy and in position, children are making it easier for their adult teeth to grow in straight and decreasing the chances that they will need an early orthodontic interventions.

At her office in San Antonio, the dentist encourages the parents of her pediatric patients to help their children with brushing from the moment they start getting their first baby teeth. By starting at such an early age, parents can show their kids what a nightly brushing and flossing routine should look like. This also prepares children for what it’s like to visit the dentist, since children who are used to their parents touching the insides of their mouths are generally less fearful when it comes time to visit the dentist in San Antonio.

Dr. Tran recommends that parents bring their children to the dentist in San Antonio when they are as young as three months old. Although children don’t typically have any baby teeth at such an early age, these appointments are a good way for parents to learn how to clean their children’s gums before their first baby teeth begin to come in.

*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

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