All I want for Christmas...
Central Incisors aka, “my two front teeth”
The Getting to know your child’s smile makers and why they are so important is more than just pearly white cuteness. Primary (baby) teeth are essential to your child’s nourishment as well as the development of permanent teeth and motor skills. When primary teeth are not taken care of properly the potential for tooth decay increases and often requires additional dental treatment.
Primary central incisors are important for your child to eat, speak, and smile. A very common misconception of baby teeth is that they’re not really that important because “they will fall out anyways”. Yes, they will fall out and eventually permanent teeth will replace them but this is not an indication to excuse oral hygiene until the permanent teeth come in. The primary centrals are considered the placeholders for adult teeth and typically become loose around 6-7 years of age. When they are removed too soon there is potential for crowding or misalignment of the permanent teeth, which could require the need for orthodontic treatment in the future.
Sometimes despite the efforts of preventing tooth decay, cavities still happen. When this happens there are multiple methods of treatment such as fillings, crowns, and in some cases extracting the teeth. Symptoms of tooth decay can include visible discolored spots on the teeth and bleeding or swollen gums. It is important to contact your dentist if you notice your child may have tooth decay.
There are many steps to maintaining healthy teeth in children. Some that can be started as early as infancy. A few oral hygiene steps that parents can help their children with include:
- Wiping the gums of your infant with a clean cloth or gauze after feedings.
- Begin brushing teeth when the first tooth erupts. Introduce healthy eating habits at a young age.
- Schedule regular dental visits at six months of age; even if baby does not have any visible teeth yet.