
Children and Baby Teeth
Because your primary teeth (baby teeth) end up falling out to make room for permanent adult teeth as a child, many people may think to brush these first teeth off as unimportant. They fall out anyways, so there’s no point in visiting the dentist or practicing extremely diligent dental care at a young age, right? Wrong!
Importance of Baby Teeth
Contrary to popular belief, baby teeth are actually very important for your overall dental health as you age. They first begin to erupt through the gums around six months of age and serve as placeholders for future permanent teeth.
Maintaining Healthy Teeth
Even though the permanent teeth a few years later during childhood, how well your child can take care of their smile sets the foundation of how healthy their permanent teeth will be when they do finally erupt. Brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and visiting the dentist regularly are just some of the ways they can help maintain a healthy smile throughout childhood and into adulthood.
Children and Visiting the Dentist
If your child seems hesitant to see the dentist, talk about your own positive experiences with the dentist, and why it’s important to see them at least twice a year. Read books, participate in fun coloring activities together, and even bring them along with you to your next dentist visit to set positive expectations for their own visit.
Practicing healthy dental care habits early on essentially sets the foundation for a healthy smile for life, from your first baby teeth to your beautiful, complete smile in adulthood.