The Importance of Caring for Primary Teeth

Have you ever wondered how important primary teeth (baby teeth) are or the best way to care for them? Sometimes people can forget that just because the primary teeth will eventually "fall out", it is still important to take care of them.

Primary teeth (also referred to as baby teeth) are the first set of teeth that come in to a child’s mouth. There are twenty primary teeth, all of which are important for the growth and development of a child. The primary teeth help children chew and speak, as well as maintain space for the permanent teeth to erupt at six or seven years of age. Primary teeth come in to the mouth (erupt) and fall out of the mouth (exfoliate) in a generally predictable series or order to assist the permanent teeth as they erupt into the mouth. If a child loses a primary tooth too early, the space allotted for the incoming permanent tooth may be lost and severe crowding may then be present.

It is extremely important for parents to encourage good oral hygiene practices in children from very young ages.  It is recommended that parents clean their children’s gums by rubbing moist cloths over a child’s gums after each meal. As the teeth begin to erupt, it is appropriate to begin using a tooth brush to clean a child’s teeth and gums. The best tooth brush to use on children who are teething are soft bristled tooth brushes as well as non-abrasive tooth pastes with limited amounts of fluoride. Younger children should be monitored closely so that unsafe amounts of fluoride are not consumed. Once a child learns to spit, the child may begin brushing his own teeth under parental supervision. It is always best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using new products (i.e. tooth paste, tooth brushes, mouth rinses, etc.).  As the primary teeth begin to erupt, children may experience discomfort or pain as the teeth are coming through the gums. Some acceptable practices to ease a child’s pain during teething is to rub the gums gently or give the child a teething ring. The Food and Drug Administration does not recommend administering topical anesthetics to children younger than two years of age.

Tooth decay (cavities or caries) can develop in primary teeth. Parents should limit the consumption of sugars, juices, formula, and milk which can cause decay to form. It is best to clean a child’s mouth out after they eat or drink in order to protect against tooth decay. Allowing children to fall asleep with a juice or milk bottle is strongly discouraged so that the sugars from these drinks are not allowed to stay on the teeth for long periods of time and form into plaque and calculus (a hard build up of calcium phosphate and carbonate, with organic matter, deposited on tooth surfaces).

Regular visits to the dentist are encouraged to allow for care and maintenance of primary teeth, while also allowing children to become familiar and comfortable with the dentist. Many times, if a relationship of trust is built between a dentist and a patient, dental anxiety can be minimized.  The American Dental Association recommends bringing children to the dentist after their first tooth erupts or right after their first birthday. These visits will not only allow the dentist to continually check and clean a child’s primary teeth, but it will allow the dentist to evaluate for habits that affect a child’s teeth. These habits include thumb or finger sucking, which can change the way in which the jaw bones grow and can cause orthodontic and orthopedic concerns as the child grows and develops.

-Chalice

These tips are found in The Journal of the American Dental Association.

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