If you think your child’s baby teeth aren’t as important as their permanent teeth, think again. A trusted pediatric dentist in Coral Gables confirms that baby teeth, or primary teeth, play a crucial role in a child’s physical, emotional, and social development. In other words, healthy primary teeth help your child become a happy and healthy adult.
Since baby teeth serve as space holders for permanent teeth, they guide the adult teeth into their proper position. If your child loses their primary teeth due to tooth decay or an injury, their existing teeth will shift into the open space, resulting in a crooked smile.
Besides giving your child a straighter and well-formed smile, healthy baby teeth are essential for proper nutrition. Kids are likely to form healthier eating habits if they don’t have cavities that make chewing painful. Conversely, healthy primary teeth reduce the risk of dietary deficiencies and malnourishment.
Your child’s baby teeth work together with their tongue and lips as they try to form words. Besides allowing your child to pronounce syllables correctly, proper positioning of well-developed baby teeth prevents their tongue from straying during speech formation. Premature loss of primary teeth due to tooth decay and cavities will affect your child’s ability to learn proper speech techniques at a young age and affect how they speak for years to come.
Likewise, your child’s primary teeth play a significant role in their facial development. Since their tooth structure provides their developing facial muscles with enough support, it gives shape to your little one’s face.
Since kids are quick to point out crooked smiles and ugly teeth, decayed or missing baby teeth can interfere with their social interactions and significantly affect their confidence and self-esteem. In contrast, healthy baby teeth promote positive social interactions and confident smiles.
At Premier Pediatric Dentistry, we’re committed to providing a personal and exceptional experience from start to finish. Contact us today to make an appointment.
