A Pediatric Dentist Answers: How Can Tooth Decay Affect Baby Teeth?

Are you wondering why your child needs to see a pediatric dentist? After all, baby teeth are not permanent, so decay should not matter, right?

First, let us clear up what a pediatric dentist does. A pediatric dentist is a dental professional who decides to focus their attention on providing dental services for both children and teenagers. They have undergone additional dental training to understand all the special needs this age group requires for good oral health. They are the ideal person to ask any questions you have about your children’s oral health, especially when it comes to tooth decay.

Childhood tooth decay

A dentist who provides dental services for children and teens understands everything there is to know about decay. They should be seen as someone you can contact with any dental-related questions you have about the overall health of your children’s teeth. Keeping an eye on tooth decay in children is especially important. Despite being temporary, the overall health of your child’s baby teeth lays the foundation for their permanent teeth.

According to the American Dental Association, starting infants off with good oral care can help protect their teeth for decades. This builds a solid foundation and establishes an oral care routine that they can follow for the rest of their life.

About baby teeth

Even though a child’s baby teeth will eventually fall out when their permanent teeth begin to grow in, they still need to receive proper oral care. You want to keep the baby teeth free from decay and disease. Baby teeth play a very important role in your child’s ability to chew, speak and smile.

Baby teeth need to stay in their proper place until they naturally fall out. If they fall out early, a space will form. The surrounding teeth will shift to fill in this gap. Once the permanent teeth grow in, your child will likely have a crooked smile because the teeth have shifted so much.

How can tooth decay affect baby teeth?

Tooth decay jeopardizes the overall health of the tooth. Two common causes of decay are prolonged bottle use and consuming too many sugary foods and drinks. Bacteria living in the mouth thrive on sugar, which quickly turns into acids that cause decay in the teeth. This decay will cause issues like cavities that can cause pain or jeopardize the health of the tooth. Bacteria can also cause infections that spread to the gums and can affect the entire body.

Pediatric dentistry can prevent decay

As you now see, baby teeth play an important role in your child’s future dental health. When you visit a pediatric dentist, you will get professional advice from someone who understands children’s dental issues. They know the common bad habits or dietary issues that can encourage tooth decay or damage.

Call our office to schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist. Together, we can help your child have a smile that they can show off for years to come.

Request an appointment here: https://www.grandparkwaypediatricdental.com or call Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental at (832) 579-0960 for an appointment in our Richmond office.

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