Your baby’s first tooth is the first step to a beautiful smile. A transition from a gummy smile to a gleeful grin of pearly whites is a long one and a process that needs careful attention to detail.
Primary teeth are important for a number of reasons. Not only do they preserve the space needed when the permanent ones arrive, they help your child begin to talk and chew.
Although temporary, first teeth, if not cared for properly, can also affect your child’s biting, speaking and physical appearance, and may lead to gum disease.
Two advance precautions:
> Have the fluoride levels checked in your family’s main supply of water; the same applies for bottled water.
> Start cleaning out your child’s mouth even before teeth arrive, using a warm, wet washcloth. Teach her early on that ongoing oral hygiene is a lifelong, essential part of staying healthy.
Teeth that arrive at birth are called neonatal teeth. “Keep them if possible, but they may have to be removed if they become detached, interfere with feeding or irritate the tongue or lips,” says Paul Chon, DDS, a Santa Ana-based dentist.
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