With so many years of experience taking care of your own teeth, you would think that caring for your baby’s adorable ones would be no big deal. Yet there’s still great confusion about what to do when teeth start making their first appearance. To help you out, we’ve listed some of the top common myths and facts about your children’s teeth.

MYTH: Baby teeth aren’t important.
FACT: Yes, your baby’s primary teeth are temporary and will eventually fall out. However, if the temporary teeth aren’t properly cared for, bacteria and decay can easily be passed down to the tooth waiting to come in behind it. Additionally, baby teeth are essential for the structure of their future mouths. Having their teeth fall out too early (due to lack of care/decay) can cause crowding when the permanent teeth begin to move in.

MYTH: Babies can’t get cavities.
FACT: If you have a tooth, you can get a cavity. Even though your child’s tooth will fall out eventually, that doesn’t mean decay is a small or temporary problem. In fact, a child who’s had cavities in their baby teeth are three times more likely to develop cavities in their adult teeth.

MYTH: My children can brush their own teeth.
FACT: While it may appear that your children are capable of brushing their own teeth, chances are they’re struggling to get to those hard-to-reach places. It’s simply because kids lack the manual dexterity needed to brush all of their teeth thoroughly until around age six or seven.

MYTH: Dental appointments aren’t necessary until their teen years.
FACT: According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children should visit the dentist by their first birthday or six months after the eruption of their first tooth. Habits form early, so it’s better to get your child into the twice-a-year dental visit routine from the very beginning.

 
If you have more questions or concerns about these common baby teeth myths, give us a call! Ensure your child is receiving the best oral care by scheduling regular check-ups at Pediatric Dentistry of Suffolk County! We offer a caring and compassionate approach, ensuring our patients are comfortable at all times. To learn more or schedule an appointment, visit our website or give us a call.

Commack Office | 631-486-6364
Medford Office | 631-320-0880