Primary teeth, also called “baby teeth”, are just as important as adult teeth!
You probably know that you should have 32 teeth once you have reached adulthood. But when you are helping your baby through teething pains, those teeth you are seeing are called primary teeth. What are they, and why are they so important?
How Primary Teeth Develop
The teeth that start to pop up in your child’s mouth tend to appear in a specific way. Although infants typically don’t have any teeth when they are born, the teeth are developed and are just waiting to come out and play. After about 6 months, you should see the first tooth. The incisors come first, followed by the molars, and then the canines. By the time your child is three years old, they should have all of their primary teeth.
How They’re Different
For one thing, primary teeth are also called baby teeth. At first, they are much smaller than the teeth you’d expect to see in a grown-up’s mouth. The roots are also weaker, which allows the primary teeth to fall out more easily as they are replaced by more permanent teeth. Baby teeth also look whiter, but that’s mainly because the enamel isn’t as thick yet, either.
Why They’re Important
Primary teeth are important. They aren’t just bait for the Tooth Fairy. The first teeth that your children grow help them learn how to speak more clearly once they learn to talk, and also how to chew their food more efficiently once they need to start chewing when they eat. Primary teeth are also placeholders for the permanent teeth that follow them. So if a baby tooth is extracted too early, it can affect the development of the next tooth to take its place, since there will suddenly be less room for it to grow and not more as you might expect. Plus, they represent a chance for you to start teaching your kids how to take care of their teeth, their tongue, their gums, and their mouth!
You Can Trust Olney Dental for All of Your Dental Care Needs
For all of your oral care questions and concerns, Olney Dental has the expertise and professionalism to get them the answers they need. Olney Dental is ready to supply you with expert service in a professional environment. Schedule an appointment online today! For more information on how we can give your family the best dentist experience available, give us a call at (301) 250-1057 or contact us online. For more dental tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, and Pinterest.