Are Baby Teeth Important?

You may be asking yourself, are baby teeth important? An infant’s first tooth is likely to appear around the age of six months and is often an occasion that’s met with jubilation as a milestone in your child’s development.

However, many new mums may be wondering whether his or her primary teeth are really that important, after all they’ll fall out within a few years and be replaced by a full set of adult teeth. Primary teeth have important functions and as a dentist in Basildon we’d like to emphasise that proper care in these early years can set set the stage for good oral health in years to come.

Promotes better nutrition

The arrival of your baby’s first tooth usually coincides with changes in his or her nutritional needs. As a general rule most babies by the time they reach six months are not satisfied with just milk and to give them the additional nutrition which is required, then it’s time to start introducing them to solid foods.

Once your baby can chew at around 6-8 months of age you can start to feed them puréed or strained vegetables and fruit. As their chewing abilities improve with the appearance of more teeth, then you can start to introduce foods such as cereal, cooked meat, bread and other adult food to his or her diet.

Help baby teeth to last longer

Although primary teeth are going to eventually fall out and be replaced by permanent adult teeth, it’s important to do your best to help primary teeth remain healthy for as long as possible since this can have a beneficial effect in the future.

Baby teeth mark the position where adult teeth will eventually appear and if they become decayed and fall out too soon then it’s likely that their permanent teeth will be crooked when they come in. By taking good care of your baby’s teeth you can help to prevent them from needing teeth straightening in Basildon treatment when they’re older.

Taking care of baby teeth

Although you can’t see them when your baby is first born their teeth are already present, it’s just that they’re invisible because they haven’t erupted through the gums. Since they’re already there it’s possible for them to develop cavities if good oral hygiene isn’t practised right from the beginning.

Here are some tips to follow:

• Brush your baby’s teeth twice a day as soon as they come in
• Floss his or her teeth as soon as there are two teeth present that can touch
• Don’t let your baby fall asleep with a bottle in their mouth
• Visit your Basildon dentist for your baby’s first dental appointment as soon as their first tooth arrives

Here at Together Dental Basildon, we’re a clinic that’s committed to the best possible dental care for all the family and we enjoy getting to know each and every new family member. Call us today on 01268 726789 to make an appointment for your baby.