The Importance of Baby Teeth

BABY TEETH

Baby teeth begin to appear in the mouth about 6 months after birth, and the full set is complete by around 2.5–3 years of age. There are 20 baby teeth in total, and they are important not only for the child's eating but also for learning to speak clearly. They also need to guide the permanent teeth so that these can erupt properly.

The Importance of Baby Teeth

• Baby teeth are important for jaw development.
• They support the normal development of the jawbone and muscles.
• Teeth are necessary for speech. Missing front baby teeth, especially during the period when a child is learning to talk, can lead to mispronunciation of certain letters (f, v, s, z, t), and this can become a habit that lasts a lifetime.
• Baby teeth are important for eating.
• Baby teeth also hold the space for the permanent teeth coming in underneath.

Trauma to Baby Teeth

The most common types of trauma in children with baby teeth are a tooth being knocked out completely or being pushed into the jawbone. Baby teeth that are knocked out are not put back in place. Trauma to baby teeth is most often seen in the preschool years, particularly because young children have difficulty keeping their balance. The time that has passed since the injury affects how badly the tooth is affected and the treatment plan. Depending on where the injury happened, the risk of tetanus may also need to be assessed. If general health problems such as loss of consciousness, bleeding, loss of balance, headache, vomiting, nausea or difficulty speaking occur, a dentist should be seen as soon as possible.

Families and anyone who looks after children should be prepared for dental injuries. The time between the injury and seeing the dentist affects how successful treatment will be.

• For children:
• a mouthguard and helmet should be used during sports,
• a seat belt and a car seat in the car,
• and a safe environment where they will not fall at home.
• If a tooth is broken and the broken piece can be found, put it in milk right away and take it to the dentist as soon as possible (within the first hour).

Treatment

If there is a problem with a baby tooth, it should be treated just like a permanent tooth. Extracting these teeth with the thought that "they're going to fall out anyway!" can lead to many problems.

In children:

1. decayed teeth prevent them from eating properly.
2. extracted teeth also make eating difficult, so growth and development problems can occur.
3. missing teeth can make children feel unattractive, leading to psychological problems and a lack of self-confidence.
4. baby teeth extracted too early cause crowding. When teeth are extracted early, the neighboring teeth drift into the gap. No room is left for the permanent tooth coming in underneath, and that tooth crowds the others.

What Treatments Can Be Used for Baby Teeth?

Children are often brought to the dentist when they are already in severe pain. The need for treatment and preventive care depends on many factors, such as the child's oral hygiene and age, the depth of decay in the tooth and the position of the permanent tooth coming in underneath.

Commonly used treatments:

• Fillings
• Root canal treatment
• Fissure sealants (tooth “varnish”)
• Space maintainers
• Preventive fluoride and varnish treatments
• Stainless steel crowns (SSC)

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

In babies, brown spots sometimes appear on the teeth as soon as they erupt, or the teeth break and crumble away. These spots are tooth decay, and the teeth break because of it. This condition, common in childhood and known as “baby bottle tooth decay,” is an infectious disease that develops as a result of improper feeding. Special care should be taken to clean the teeth, particularly after night-time feeds.

Oral and Dental Care in Children

• Because children cannot brush their own teeth until about 2–2.5 years of age, brushing should be done under a parent's supervision. Toothbrushes designed for children or finger brushes can be used. Because the child's swallowing reflex is still developing at this stage and the child may swallow toothpaste, toothpaste should be introduced after the age of 3.
• The teeth should always be cleaned after meals.
• There should never be any food left in the mouth during sleep.
• Parents should help children develop the habit of brushing their teeth.
• Regular dental checkups should not be missed.