Why Should I Do Dental Work On My Child’s Baby Teeth?

Baby Teeth May Not Be Permanent, But They're Not Disposable

Everyone knows that baby teeth fall out eventually. But that doesn’t mean that they're not important. Kids usually get their first baby tooth when they're around one year old, and they don’t lose their last baby tooth until they're 12 or 13 years old.

That means that, for more than a decade, your child’s baby teeth will be helping them chew, eat, and speak. Keeping their smile in great shape is essential for their oral health, overall health, and well-being.

While your child may not keep their baby teeth for a lifetime, the baby teeth are an essential part of their mouth. If one of their teeth becomes damaged due to decay, dental trauma, or any other oral health issue, it’s important to get help from an experienced pediatric dentist like Dr. Alex at Kids Tooth Team.

With treatments such as dental fillings and crowns for damaged teeth and space maintainers for missing teeth, Dr. Alex can restore your child’s smile, eliminate their discomfort, and ensure that their teeth stay healthy as their mouths continue to grow.
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4 Reasons Why Dental Work Is Essential For Baby Teeth

So, why is dental work essential for treating decayed or damaged baby teeth? Here are just a few reasons that you should bring your child to see Dr. Alex to get a filling or other necessary dental work to restore their tooth.

1. Eliminates pain and discomfort – Anyone who has had a serious cavity or an infected tooth knows that it hurts. This pain and discomfort can be very hard for young kids to deal with, and if you don’t get appropriate treatment, it will only get worse. Getting necessary dental care in Austin is essential for keeping your little one’s mouth pain-free.
   
   
2. Prevents further complications – The sooner your child gets help for a decayed or damaged tooth, the better the outcome will be. For example, early intervention with a filling may eliminate the need for more extensive treatment with a root canal and a dental crown.
   
   
3. Enables normal speaking and chewing – If your child’s baby teeth are unhealthy, are causing them pain, or they're missing one or more of their baby teeth prematurely, they may have trouble chewing properly. This may make it more difficult for your child to get proper nutrition as they grow.
   
   Teeth are also very important for proper speech. Damaged or missing teeth can also lead to the development of speech impediments, which can be more difficult to treat and resolve later in life.

4. Ensures the proper development of adult teeth – Baby teeth do more than just help your child chew, eat, and speak. They are actually critical for helping your child’s adult teeth emerge properly.
   
   Baby teeth form the “pathways” that adult teeth take when they begin to erupt. If your child’s baby teeth are not healthy or they have lost lots of baby teeth prematurely, this can lead to problems with their oral development.
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Recognizing The Signs That Something’s Wrong With Your Child’s Teeth

So, how do you know if there’s something wrong with your child’s teeth? Here are a few common signs that your child may need to see a dentist to get dental work done on their baby teeth.

• Tooth discoloration – Baby teeth should be bright white in color. Unhealthy, decayed, or damaged teeth may have brown, gray, or dark stains and spots. If you notice these spots on your child’s teeth, you should take them to the dentist right away.
  
  
• Swollen or discolored gums – Along with tooth discoloration, you may also notice discoloration and swelling in the gums near the affected tooth. For example, if your child has an infected tooth, the gum tissue near the tooth may be red, swollen, and inflamed.
  
  
• Visible damage to the tooth – Visible chips, pits, or holes in your child’s teeth indicate that their tooth has been damaged by dental trauma or tooth decay. They will need to have their tooth treated and repaired with a filling or a dental crown.

• Tenderness, pain, and discomfort – Pain is the body’s way of letting you know that something is wrong. So if your child tells you that their tooth hurts or is sensitive, this usually indicates that something is wrong with their tooth.
  
  However, oral health issues don’t always cause pain. Because of this, it’s important to pay attention to your child’s oral health, and to bring them to the dentist every six months for preventive care. At their preventive appointments, Dr. Alex can take x-rays and perform oral exams to look for oral health issues that may not be causing your child any pain or discomfort.
  
  

Worried About Your Child’s Baby Teeth? Get Help From Kids Tooth Team

If you think that something’s wrong with one or more of your child’s baby teeth, Dr. Alex and our team are here to help. At Kids Tooth Team, we’re proud to serve families all throughout the South Austin and Buda area with expert dental care.

Whether your child has a damaged tooth, lost a baby tooth too early, or you’re just looking for preventive care to keep their smile healthy, our team is here for you. We’re always accepting new patients. So don’t wait. Take control of your child’s oral health. Give us a call at (512) 523-4774 to schedule an appointment today, or feel free to contact us online if you have any questions.