Little Known Truths About Baby Teeth

To some people, children’s baby teeth might seem like “training teeth.” However, taking care of baby teeth does matter! Even though they may be little and temporary, taking care of these teeth is a vital part of your child’s health. There are several myths regarding children’s dental health, and Dakota Dental wants to bust these myths and educate patients and families about taking care of your teeth.

Myth 1: Baby Teeth Aren’t Important in the Long Run:

Even though baby teeth will fall out, they still play an incredibly important role in a child’s oral health and development. Baby teeth hold the space for permanent teeth and help them grow in straight; this helps prevent overcrowding and crooked teeth. They also help the children’s face structure develop properly.

Myth 2: It Doesn’t Matter if Baby Teeth Get Cavities.

Some people believe that children can’t even get cavities, or if they do get them, it’s not anything to be alarmed about because those teeth aren’t permanent. But cavities are still painful, whether they happen to baby teeth or permanent ones. And studies have shown that children who get cavities in their baby teeth are three times more likely to develop cavities in their adult teeth.

Myth 3: Children Only Need to Brush Their Teeth Once a Day.

Even children should be brushing their teeth twice a day. It takes about 24 hours for plaque and bacteria to build up enough strength to damage a tooth’s enamel. However, that doesn’t mean that once-a-day brushing will cut it. It’s not very likely that a person will remove 100% of plaque each and every time they brush their teeth – so brushing twice daily helps improve the odds of getting rid of plaque. It’s also important to teach kids how to clean their teeth to ensure they’re successfully removing plaque buildup.

The family dentists at Dakota Dental can help you teach your children about the importance of dental health. Dakota Dental’s dentists are trained in pediatric dentistry and can help the whole family avoid oral health problems by debunking common myths about teeth like these.

To schedule an appointment for your family, contact Dakota Dental today!