A HAPPY MOUTH is… A HAPPY LIFE : Why baby teeth matter ?? Primary teeth are more important than you think !
|
Dr Rajkumari Sarada Devi
Primary or baby teeth, also known as milk teeth, are the first set of teeth to appear in a child's mouth. They begin to emerge around six months of age and continue to appear until about three years old, totaling 20 teeth. Many parents believe that milk teeth are temporary and therefore unimportant because Primary teeth are going to “fall out anyway.” However, primary teeth are key to a child’s growth and development. Primary teeth are the valuable assets of a child. They play crucial roles in a child’s growth and development.
Milk teeth or primary teeth play a vital role for chewing and nutrition, speech development, esthe-tics, jaw and facial deve- lopment and also as a space maintainer for permanent teeth. Often problems in milk teeth in the form of pain and swelling can cause distress to the child, leading to inability to chew or speak properly or even may affect the appearance of a child. Parents are decision makers for their children, the more positive the mother’s attitude toward dental health the better is the child’s oral hygiene. Therefore, it is important to examine the attitudes and also the knowledge of the parents, as these may affect their behavior toward their child’s oral health. The health of primary teeth affects children’s overall health and well-being.When children consume high sugar or starchy foods, the bacteria in their mouth produce acid that attacks tooth enamel. Repeated acid attacks lead to the demine- ralization that eventually becomes cavity or decay tooth. Decay in primary teeth can lead to pain and abscess. Infections originating from an abscessed primary tooth can have significant consequences ran- ging from localized damage to systemic health issues.
The primary outcomes of such infections include:
Damage to permanent Successors (underlying permanent teeth) i.e The localized inflammation or trauma from the primary tooth’s abscess can disturpt the enamel formation of the permanent tooth. This often results in white, yellow, brown spots or even structural pitting on the perma- nent tooth once it erupts.
Facial space infections and cellulitis, this involves painful, firm swelling of the face or cheek.
Systemic complications in severe cases, the bacteria from a dental abscess can enter the bloodstream (bac-teremia) leading to fever, malaise and Lympha- denopathy (swollen lymph nodes).Using antibiotics to treat dental infections may work temporarily. However, infections will always come back if tooth decay is not treated. Early loss of primary teeth due to caries (decay) or trauma is a significant concern in pediatric dentistry because these teeth are far more than just place holders.
They serve as the natural guides for permanent teeth and are essential for child’s development.
Early loss of primary teeth due to tooth decay can interfere with the development of a young child’s speech. If primary teeth are lost too early, adjacent teeth move into the space and block the erupting permanent teeth. This can cause crowding.
Primary teeth serve several essential functions:
Chewing and Nutrition: Primary teeth allow children to chew food properly, aiding in digestion. Proper chewing is the first step of digestion. If a child has dental pain or missing teeth, they may avoid hard healthy foods like apple leading to nutritional deficiencies. Proper chewing and nutrition helps in growth and development.
Speech development : Primary teethare fundamental articulators that allow a child to produce clear distinct sounds and form words correctly, playing a critical role in speech development.
Natural space maintainer: Primary teeth act as placeholders for permanent teeth. Each primary tooth holds a specific amount of horizontal and vertical space in the dental arch. When a primary tooth remains healthy until its natural exfoliation, it guides the permanent successor into the correct position. They ensure there is enough space in the jaw for the future eruption of permanent teeth, helping to prevent overcrowding and dental malalignment.
Facial structure: Primary teeth are the fundamental architects of a child’s developing face. They support the muscles of the face and contribute to the overall shape and structure of the child’s face. They do much more than just chew, they act as placeholders and structural supports during a critical period of skeletal growth. The teeth provide the internal scaffolding for the lips and cheeks. The front primary teeth (incisors) provide the necessary support for the lips to rest naturally. Consistent chewing on both sides of the mouth facilitated by healthy primary molars ensures that the jaw muscles develop symmetrically preventing uneven facial appearance.
Stimulating jaw growth: The jawbones (maxilla and Mandible) require the physical presence of teeth and the mechanical stress of chewing to develop correctly. The roots of primary teeth are embedded in the alveolar bone. As a child chews, the pressure stimulates the bone to grow and maintain its density. The height of the primary teeth determines the vertical dimension of the face i.e., the distance between the nose and the chin. Without primary healthy teeth, this distance can decrease, leading to prematurely aged facial appearance.
Psychological and social well-being: A child’s smile is a major part of their self image and social interaction. Children can become self-conscious about severely decayed or missing front teeth at a surprisingly young age when speaking or smiling with peers.
In conclusion, maintaining healthy primary teeth is a fundamental pillar of a child’s long term physical and social development.
The writer is Asst Prof, Dept of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Dental College, RIMS, Imphal
Primary or baby teeth, also known as milk teeth, are the first set of teeth to appear in a child's mouth. They begin to emerge around six months of age and continue to appear until about three years old, totaling 20 teeth. Many parents believe that milk teeth are temporary and therefore unimportant because Primary teeth are going to “fall out anyway.” However, primary teeth are key to a child’s growth and development. Primary teeth are the valuable assets of a child. They play crucial roles in a child’s growth and development.
Milk teeth or primary teeth play a vital role for chewing and nutrition, speech development, esthe-tics, jaw and facial deve- lopment and also as a space maintainer for permanent teeth. Often problems in milk teeth in the form of pain and swelling can cause distress to the child, leading to inability to chew or speak properly or even may affect the appearance of a child. Parents are decision makers for their children, the more positive the mother’s attitude toward dental health the better is the child’s oral hygiene. Therefore, it is important to examine the attitudes and also the knowledge of the parents, as these may affect their behavior toward their child’s oral health. The health of primary teeth affects children’s overall health and well-being.When children consume high sugar or starchy foods, the bacteria in their mouth produce acid that attacks tooth enamel. Repeated acid attacks lead to the demine- ralization that eventually becomes cavity or decay tooth. Decay in primary teeth can lead to pain and abscess. Infections originating from an abscessed primary tooth can have significant consequences ran- ging from localized damage to systemic health issues.
The primary outcomes of such infections include:
Damage to permanent Successors (underlying permanent teeth) i.e The localized inflammation or trauma from the primary tooth’s abscess can disturpt the enamel formation of the permanent tooth. This often results in white, yellow, brown spots or even structural pitting on the perma- nent tooth once it erupts.
Facial space infections and cellulitis, this involves painful, firm swelling of the face or cheek.
Systemic complications in severe cases, the bacteria from a dental abscess can enter the bloodstream (bac-teremia) leading to fever, malaise and Lympha- denopathy (swollen lymph nodes).Using antibiotics to treat dental infections may work temporarily. However, infections will always come back if tooth decay is not treated. Early loss of primary teeth due to caries (decay) or trauma is a significant concern in pediatric dentistry because these teeth are far more than just place holders.
They serve as the natural guides for permanent teeth and are essential for child’s development.
Early loss of primary teeth due to tooth decay can interfere with the development of a young child’s speech. If primary teeth are lost too early, adjacent teeth move into the space and block the erupting permanent teeth. This can cause crowding.
Primary teeth serve several essential functions:
Chewing and Nutrition: Primary teeth allow children to chew food properly, aiding in digestion. Proper chewing is the first step of digestion. If a child has dental pain or missing teeth, they may avoid hard healthy foods like apple leading to nutritional deficiencies. Proper chewing and nutrition helps in growth and development.
Speech development : Primary teethare fundamental articulators that allow a child to produce clear distinct sounds and form words correctly, playing a critical role in speech development.
Natural space maintainer: Primary teeth act as placeholders for permanent teeth. Each primary tooth holds a specific amount of horizontal and vertical space in the dental arch. When a primary tooth remains healthy until its natural exfoliation, it guides the permanent successor into the correct position. They ensure there is enough space in the jaw for the future eruption of permanent teeth, helping to prevent overcrowding and dental malalignment.
Facial structure: Primary teeth are the fundamental architects of a child’s developing face. They support the muscles of the face and contribute to the overall shape and structure of the child’s face. They do much more than just chew, they act as placeholders and structural supports during a critical period of skeletal growth. The teeth provide the internal scaffolding for the lips and cheeks. The front primary teeth (incisors) provide the necessary support for the lips to rest naturally. Consistent chewing on both sides of the mouth facilitated by healthy primary molars ensures that the jaw muscles develop symmetrically preventing uneven facial appearance.
Stimulating jaw growth: The jawbones (maxilla and Mandible) require the physical presence of teeth and the mechanical stress of chewing to develop correctly. The roots of primary teeth are embedded in the alveolar bone. As a child chews, the pressure stimulates the bone to grow and maintain its density. The height of the primary teeth determines the vertical dimension of the face i.e., the distance between the nose and the chin. Without primary healthy teeth, this distance can decrease, leading to prematurely aged facial appearance.
Psychological and social well-being: A child’s smile is a major part of their self image and social interaction. Children can become self-conscious about severely decayed or missing front teeth at a surprisingly young age when speaking or smiling with peers.
In conclusion, maintaining healthy primary teeth is a fundamental pillar of a child’s long term physical and social development.
The writer is Asst Prof, Dept of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Dental College, RIMS, Imphal