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Primary teeth also known as milk teeth are the most neglected teeth in a child. Parents often overlook them as they think that they get replaced, but the defects in primary teeth can be carried into permanent and also affect Jaw Structure.

Here are the lists of factors which make taking care of primary teeth important

  1. Development of Permanent Teeth: presence or absence of primary teeth affects eruption and development of permanent teeth. The nerve endings and cells stimulate the development of permanent teeth. Their presence till the right age will propel permanent teeth to erupt in time. If primary teeth fall down earlier, then the stimulus to erupt for permanent teeth is lost, their eruption gets delayed. If primary teeth are retained in the mouth even after their stipulated shedding stage then permanent teeth erupt in a different position or their eruption is delayed until the teeth are removed or extracted.
  2. Development of Jaw Bone: Presence of teeth stimulate the growth of alveolar bone which in turn effect jaw growth. Early loss of primary teeth slows down the development of jaws. The child may have under developed jaw bones.
  3. Facial Symmetry: The presence and position of primary teeth affect facial structure. If upper front teeth are pushed by thumb sucking habit of the child the upper jaw protrudes causing open bite in the child. Oral habits of children affect their facial symmetry. Hence having regular dental checkup will help you prevent the development of facial asymmetries and preserves aesthetics of the child’s face.
  4. Damage of Permanent Teeth: The cavities formed in the milk teeth if left unchecked can affect permanent teeth. They may cause changes in the structure and shape of permanent teeth that replace them. If milk teeth fall off early then the development of permanent teeth stops.

Factors That Affects Milk Teeth:

  1. Nursing Bottle Caries: When child feeds on milk bottles if they are kept in child’s mouth for longer duration of time like while they sleep, it increase the exposure of their teeth to sugar which causes caries in child’s mouth which in turn affects couple or more teeth. This is common occurrence during the bottle feeding term of children.
  2. Trauma: When child get hurts while playing or by accident, it more often than not affect upper front tooth of the child. The breaking of upper front teeth affects aesthetics and development of permanent teeth.
  3. Caries: The most common reason for the extraction of primary teeth. As children eat more sugar-containing foods like chocolates and ice-creams, their teeth are more susceptible to caries. These caries are often neglected in children which leads to them in becoming large and painful.
  4. Pregnancy: The growth of primary teeth is linked to mother’s health as their development begins in utero. These defects are more aesthetic in nature. Medications taken during or after pregnancy during breastfeeding months can affect the color and shape of the primary teeth .

How To Take Care Of Primary Teeth:

  1. Regular Supervised Brushing: A parent or a guardian should supervise or help the child to brush their teeth properly. Children often brush fast and superficial as an adult make sure your child innermost teeth and all surfaces are cleaned properly and there is nothing stuck in their teeth such as candy particles. There are special brushes to clean gum pads of children after every feed.
  2. Precaution: Remove Milk bottles while children sleeps and wipe there mouth clean.
  3. Regular Dental Checkups: the First visit should be in 7 months of age when the first tooth erupts in the cavity. Getting the checkup every 6 months or year is advisable. Do not neglect even mild caries
  4. Fluoride Application: Regular fluoride applications strengthens tooth enamel and prevents caries in children.
  5. Pit And Fissure Sealands: Application of pit and fissure sealands closes the susceptible areas of tooth to micro-organism thus preventing caries.
  6. Braces: The right age for the braces is 10-12 years, when applied at this age its less time consuming and more efficient

Get your child for a regular checkup at Ankura Dental Hospital. Contact here for appointments.

By

Dr Andaleeb Zaidi

Ankura Dental – Best Dental Clinic in Hyderabad

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