Care Of Primary Teeth

The primary teeth pave the way for your child's permanent teeth. They serve as the foundation for a healthy mouth and gums and proper positioning of permanent teeth.

Dr Barrera says primary teeth help children to chew easily, speak clearly and put a great looking smile on their faces. They also provide structure to help shape their faces. If a baby tooth becomes broken or decayed and are left untreated, that can affect your child's erupting permanent teeth, cause them pain and even contribute to other health problems.  If this happens, you should bring your child to Dr B's office immediately for treatment and observation.

Primary teeth serve as natural space maintainers, holding the space open until the permanent teeth are ready to take their place. If baby teeth are lost too early, the other teeth can drift out of their position and invade the empty space. This might cause permanent teeth to come in crooked or unable to erupt into the gum, which leads to malocclusion.