Around kindergarten, maybe first grade, kids start a countdown to the tooth fairy. When the teeth do start to come out, well, there’s just nothing like those pictures of gap-toothed grins on kiddos who are so proud of themselves!

But sometimes baby teeth have serious decay: what are you going to do about those?  You might think, well, they’re going to come out anyway, we’ll go ahead and have it pulled out, and stop at the ATM on the way home for some tooth fairy cash.

Before you get any further down that train of thought, let’s think about the important role that baby teeth play:

• The first set of teeth promote healthy nutrition. Do you remember when your child was an infant? You celebrated when teeth came in! It meant that solid foods were on their way. Without all 20 teeth, the ability to thoroughly chew is compromised.
• Primary teeth also facilitate correct speech patterns. Notice next time you talk how your lips touch the teeth at the front and the sides. Now think about the next several years for your child without the ability to say certain sounds correctly due to a missing tooth.
• School aged children can be very sensitive to differences in their appearance. Missing teeth and the inability to say certain words correctly can be embarrassing or even damaging to their self-esteem.
• Finally, and perhaps most importantly, baby teeth serve as a guide to the permanent teeth. When one gets pulled too early, teeth can grow in crooked or crowded. Orthodontia, may be required to correct the problem that could have otherwise been prevented.

When you need a professional to take care of your child’s baby teeth call Park Smiles Kids. We’ll even celebrate with you as the permanent teeth come in one milestone at a time!