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Most infants show the first signs of baby teeth between six months and one year of age. Some parents mistakenly believe that dental care is not important because these young molars and incisors are temporary. Dentistry For Kids in Pearl City, HI, is here to bust that myth. Their team of pediatric dentists wants to educate parents on the reasons baby teeth are vital to their little ones’ health and well-being.

4 Reasons Why Baby Teeth Are So Important

1. Speech Development 

Young children accumulate a small vocabulary by the time they are 18 months old. Baby teeth are important in the child’s ability to form the correct sounds while they are learning to use these words in conversation. Speech problems that result from uncared for baby teeth can last into adulthood.

2. Chewing & Eating

pediatric dentistKids need balanced diets to promote physical and mental development in early childhood. A mouth full of healthy baby teeth ensures your toddler is cavity free so they can enjoy fruits and vegetables without any discomfort. A child plagued by toothaches may develop poor eating habits to cope with the pain.

3. Adult Teeth Development

Baby teeth pave the way for permanent pearly whites by reserving space in the jawbone. Once the permanent teeth begin to come in, baby teeth will begin to fall out to guide the new tooth to its correct location. Pediatric dentists warn that patients who prematurely lose their baby teeth due to poor hygiene are at risk for crooked smiles, impacted teeth, and more.

4. Developing Good Oral Hygiene Habits

Treating baby teeth as unimportant teaches your child that there’s no need to follow a dental care routine. It will be much harder to establish a good regimen with your child after bad brushing and flossing habits have set in, so you should use baby teeth as a learning opportunity. Children who fail to develop good habits are at risk for multiple visits to a pediatric dentist and a lifetime of issues.

Take the advice of pediatric dentistry experts and treat your child’s baby teeth as if they were permanent. Proactive care early in life sets the stage for proper speech development, healthy eating habits, and a lifetime of good oral hygiene. Dentistry For Kids is here to help supplement your at-home routine with kid-friendly, compassionate services. Schedule their first dental visit by phone at (808) 486-8881 or go online for new patient information.

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