Give Your Baby a Healthy Mouth For a Lifetime: Why Baby Teeth Matter!

"They’re just baby teeth - they’ll fall out anyway!” Maybe you’ve heard a friend or family member say that. But the truth is that “baby teeth” are very important to your baby’s oral health for a lifetime.

Here's why:

• Babies need their first teeth as they learn to chew and speak.
• If your baby’s early teeth get cavities, it can cause discomfort and pain.
• Baby teeth are located right on top of “adult” teeth. If baby teeth become very diseased or decayed, it can affect the health of the permanent teeth.
• Baby teeth save space for your child’s future permanent (adult) teeth. If a child loses a baby tooth too early due to decay or disease, it can lead to crooked or crowded teeth later. Crowded teeth are hard to keep clean and have a greater chance of becoming diseased later. Plus, it’s more likely your child will need expensive braces if the permanent teeth don’t have enough room to come in.

Do you understand now why it’s so important to care for your baby’s first teeth? Maybe you aren’t sure how to find the time for this in your busy day. If so, click here to find an article with tips on fitting baby's oral health care into your daily routine. Or, you can click “Return to Resources” then "Continue" to create an action plan and finish the lesson.