Babies are typically born without any teeth in their mouths, but it doesn't take too long before they start to appear.  The first baby teeth to come into a baby's mouth are the lower front teeth around the ages of 6 to 10 months.  As soon as they start to appear it is important to know how to take care of them because tooth decay is possible even at an early age.

A good way to take care of your baby's teeth at such a young age is to use a warm wash cloth to wipe their teeth.  It can be difficult to use a toothbrush at the beginning so a wash cloth is a good alternative.  As a baby gets older you can introduce an age appropriate toothbrush to get them familiar with it.  As your child ages, it is important to help and supervise their brushing habits even up to the age of 8.  Brushing and flossing habits are skills that have to be taught as part of a good oral health routine.

Baby teeth aid in eating and speech development in children.  In addition to these important aspects of a child's development, baby teeth also serve as place holders for the adult teeth to come in.  When baby teeth are lost prematurely the spaces for the adult teeth to come in can be lost leading to teeth crowding or teeth that are not aligned properly.

Baby teeth serve children for a long time.  The last baby teeth come out around the age of 11 or 12, and in some cases it can be even longer for children with late tooth development.  This is why cavities found in baby teeth need to be repaired.  A cavity allowed to grow for years could lead to infection, pain, and even tooth loss for your child.  It is always easiest to take care of a cavity when it is small.  Furthermore, cavities in children can be reduced or eliminated with the proactive placement of sealants to close off the areas of a tooth most susceptible to tooth decay.

At Reed Dental Center, we are happy to see your children and give instruction on how to keep your child's teeth healthy and strong.  Early visits to the dentist help ease dental fear and aid in helping achieve healthy habits for a lifetime.  Starting your child off with good oral healthcare habits will greatly reduce costs of dental care treatments throughout their lifetimes and make sure they keep their teeth for life into adulthood.