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YES!

Sometimes people think that baby teeth are not very important and do not require as much care or treatment as adult teeth. This idea stems from the fact that baby teeth fall out (or "exfoliate") and are replaced by permanent adult teeth. Even though baby teeth (hopefully*) will have a permanent tooth coming behind them to take their place, they still require the same attention and care as adult teeth.

So what's the big deal? Well, first of all, baby teeth are extremely important for normal function:

Baby teeth allow for good nutrition by facilitating proper chewing.

Baby teeth aid in speech development.

Baby teeth promote the proper development of the permanent teeth by saving space for them.

What does all of that mean?

Losing baby teeth too early can prevent children from chewing their food properly, which can affect the types of foods they eat and, consequently, prevent them from obtaining all of their nutritional needs.

The presence of baby teeth guide the mouth and tongue and allow for proper speech; missing or misaligned teeth may cause speech impediments.

It is important that baby teeth maintain their natural position in the mouth until they are ready to be exfoliated (either by becoming loose and wiggled out or by the assistance of a dentist). Each baby tooth serves the purpose of preserving adequate space in the mouth for the permanent tooth that will appear in its place. Premature loss of baby teeth can cause other teeth to shift or drift into the open space. This shifting prevents the permanent tooth from coming into the proper position which greatly contributes to crowded and misaligned permanent teeth that will require braces for correction.

As for that hopefully* above, there are some instances in which a child is missing the permanent tooth that should replace their baby tooth. Treatment of this concern can vary, but often times a person can maintain their baby tooth on into adulthood, and possibly for their entire life. The major concern here is that proper oral hygiene is established at a young age and maintained into adulthood so that the tooth is not lost to decay and cavities.

So, yes, baby teeth are important! They guide a child's chewing and nutritional needs, aid in speech development, and preserve space for the permanent teeth. At Jacques Dentistry, we want to make sure your child has healthy teeth so that they can talk and eat with ease! Don't neglect those baby teeth just because they will be gone in a few years -- they have an importance purpose now!

This week, Crest is introducing several new flavors of toothpaste in their "Crest Be" line. You can choose from Mint Chocolate Trek, Lime Spearmint Zest, or Vanilla Mint Spark -- or try them all! They are all mint-based and designed to leave your mouth feeling clean and refreshed as well as adding some "adventure" to your normal brushing routine.

If you're looking for something new, give one of these toothpastes a try and let us know what you think! Do you think you would like using a toothpaste that has a hint of chocolate, lime, or vanilla? What about your kids? These new flavors could be a great way to get them excited about brushing their teeth!

According to the American Dental Association, children should have their visit dental visit within six months of the appearance of their first tooth, and no later than their first birthday. That probably seems soon, doesn't it?! Well, there are several benefits for starting out early with your child's dental health:

For starters, at that one dental visit when their is only one tooth, it's pretty likely that there are zero cavities. Starting out with ideal dental health can help ensure that your child stays on a healthy path.

Visiting the dentist once that first tooth appears allows your child to start a lifelong preventive dental care routine that will help them to minimize tooth decay and gum disease.

Dentists are able to detect early tooth decay, advise parents about proper oral and facial development, and determine the proper at home regimen for your child.

This dental visit during a child's first year can actually save money! A study has shown that children who visit the dentist before age one have 40% lower dental costs in their first five years than children who do not. This is attributed to the cost of dental and medical procedures that may be necessary as a result of poor oral health.

By establishing a "dental home" with your child very early on, you and your child will both be more comfortable with your dental providers and your dentist will have a good baseline of your child's health. This is especially important in case your child should ever have an accident or dental problem. Your child will be more at ease with someone that they already have a relationship with, and your dentist will be able to more accurately compare their condition to their normal healthy state (much like a when you take your child for their well visits at the doctor!).

We would love for Jacques Dentistry to be your child's dental home. We offer complimentary initial exams for infants and toddlers and would love to introduce your child to proper dental health and hygiene!

So that means that we are going to take some time to talk about children and their dental health needs! Stay tuned for information on our blog and on our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/JacquesDentistry to learn more about the process of children's teeth eruption, when they should first visit the dentist, tips for taking care of your children's teeth and for teaching them how to care for their own teeth, and much more!

As a reminder, we treat patients of all ages here at Jacques Dentistry, so let us be your child's dental home!