How Baby Teeth Help Mouths Grow Up Right
Posted on October 27th, 2017
Every Lexington parent remembers seeing their baby’s first teeth emerge, watching the rest pop up, and finally cheering as their child loses their first baby tooth, all in the blink of an eye! In fact, baby teeth come and go so quickly that some people are led believe they don’t have an impact on a child’s dental health later in life. Dr. Brewer wants you to know that that couldn’t be further from the truth! At Brewer Family Dental, we are committed to giving our community access to reliable information on dental care, so here are the facts about why baby teeth matter. Feel free to give us a (859) 554-4799 with any questions.
A Guide to Baby Teeth
Baby teeth, also known as deciduous, primary, milk, or lacteal teeth, are a set of 20 teeth that will be in your child’s mouth for most of their childhood. Although baby teeth usually emerge at around 6 months, they begin forming in the womb as early as 16 weeks. By age 3, all Lexington children should have all 20 of their baby teeth. By age 13, all their permanent teeth (except for wisdom teeth) will have come in.
Why Baby Teeth Matter
Your child’s primary teeth play a crucial role in their life. They may only be around for the first few years, but they set the stage for dental health and proper development in the future. Here’s what Dr. Brewer would like every Lexington parent to know about primary teeth:
- They make chewing possible so that babies can learn to eat solid food
- They help kids learn to speak quickly and clearly
- They save space for permanent teeth as children’s’ mouths grow
- They help kids learn the importance of dental hygiene
Taking Care of Baby Teeth
The best way to ensure life-long dental health is to teach your kids about dental hygiene with consistent, but fun routines. Brush their teeth twice a day and floss them at least once a day. Most importantly, make sure to visit Dr. Brewer when your baby’s first teeth emerge, and then twice a year after that for regular checkups and cleanings. At Brewer Family Dental, we love to help Lexington families maintain great oral health, so please give us a call at (859) 554-4799 if you have any questions.
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Written by Dr. Kevin Brewer
