Baby teeth are temporary. That’s a fact. They will fall out and get replaced by adult teeth at some point – another fact.
Unfortunately, this is also the main reason why many parents feel too relaxed about their kid’s teeth.
There are many reasons to be concerned with babies and children developing dental problems. Here are a few:
1. ORTHODONTIC (Spacing Problems)
If cavities are left untreated, early tooth loss could occur leaving prolonged empty spaces.
This becomes a problem when the adult tooth is not ready to come through and occupy the space. The empty spaces will allow neighboring teeth to shift and naturally fill or take up the vacancies. This becomes a big problem once the adult tooth is ready to erupt, as there will not be adequate space for the tooth.
What ends up happening is the adult tooth becomes misaligned. The misalignment of one tooth also impacts adjacent teeth as the mouth tries to adjust on the fly, creating a domino effect. Expensive braces may be needed to correct the bite and alignment of teeth.
2. INFECTION
Cavities are essentially decay caused by bacteria in your mouth.
As the bacteria grow and multiply, it will migrate below the gums, causing infection of the underlying adult tooth that is still in the development period. This infection is called an abscess and is very painful for the child.
Other problems include delay or prevention of the developing adult tooth from erupting, and extraction of the tooth is required. Even if the underlying adult tooth survives, it may be malformed, discolored, or permanently stained.