Baby teeth are essential to your child’s overall health and development. Your child’s teeth will play an important role in his or her diet, chewing and eating, their ability to speak and pronounce words properly, and in their self-esteem. And baby teeth also play a vital role for the permanent teeth that will come in much later in a child’s life.

The baby teeth hold space in your child’s jaw for the permanent teeth which are growing under the gums during the early years of a child’s life. For example, when a baby tooth is lost too early due to an accident or decay, the permanent teeth may start to drift out of position. When this happens, the permanent teeth move around under the gum line making it hard for them to find room to come in. They may end up coming in crowded or crooked. If tipping occurs, permanent teeth can also experience early loss of supporting bone.

It is never too early to teach children about the importance of their oral health. Helping children develop good oral care habits with their baby teeth is important because these habits are likely to continue with them into adulthood and will shape how they care for their permanent teeth. Healthy baby teeth lead to healthy permanent teeth.