Why are milk teeth important?

If you are a parent of a child between the age of 1 to 6 years, you probably have wondered why milk teeth are so important? This also happens to be one of the most frequently asked questions by parents to their dentist. 

So, why is it so important to save or take care of milk teeth when eventually they are just going to fall off and get replaced? 

Baby teeth, commonly known as milk teeth due to their appearance and age of eruption, are just as crucial as permanent teeth and require proper oral health care. Any negligence can seriously affect a child's oral and overall health and development.

Milk teeth perform various functions such as:

1. Chewing and speech.
2. Children need their teeth to chew food to ensure proper digestion and nutrition. If their teeth get affected by dental cavities, it will lead to pain and discomfort and affect their nutrition. Similarly, teeth play an essential role in speech; missing teeth or crooked teeth can lead to speech impediments like a lisp which can have severe ramifications as children grow up. 
3. Facial Development.
4. Milk teeth aid in the normal growth of the jaw bone and influence the development of facial muscles. 
5. Prevent abnormal growth.
6. Milk teeth also hold spaces for the proper eruption of permanent teeth. If they are allowed to get diseased and are removed, it can contribute to misalignments once permanent teeth erupt due to an early loss of space. This can also contribute to abnormal facial development, jaw-joint problems, and retarded growth. 
7. Psychosocial Well-being.

Dental diseases not only cause physical pain but also impacts the mental well-being of a child. There is a stigma associated with decayed teeth and poor oral hygiene. Healthy and strong milk teeth allow your child to smile freely and are a tremendous confidence booster. 

Therefore, it is of utmost importance that milk teeth are treated with good care. If you have any more questions or wish to schedule an appointment with us at Wilmington Orthodontic Center, please reach out to us. Our excellent dental professionals will be here to assist you and your little angel with excellent oral health.