Many parents have had the experience of bringing their child to the dentist and discovering they have a cavity. As a parent, you shouldn’t take this as a judgment on your parenting but rather as an opportunity to reevaluate your family’s approach to oral health. When your child has a cavity in a baby tooth, you may think it’s not that big a deal since it’s going to fall out and be replaced by a permanent tooth, anyway. However, repairing cavities in baby teeth with fillings is just as important as doing the same for their permanent teeth.
Why does your child need fillings in their baby teeth? Here’s what a dentist has to say.
Relieve Discomfort and Pain
Having a cavity isn’t just inconvenient. It’s uncomfortable and painful, especially for a child. Left untreated, cavities will grow and reach further into the tooth, eventually reaching the roots and gums. By removing the decayed area and repairing the tooth with a filling, a dentist can limit the damage and relieve your child’s pain and discomfort.
Prevent Other Dental Problems
A cavity is never just a cavity. Left untreated, cavities can lead to other dental problems, including infection. Additionally, poor dental health in childhood often predicts the same later in life. All parents know how difficult it can be to convince kids to properly brush their teeth every day, but it’s a battle worth fighting until they develop the habit. It may lead to some difficult bedtime routines now, but your kids really will thank you later when they grow up to have healthy teeth.
Ensure Health and Development
The reason we are careful to take good care of our teeth is because we need them! You may not realize it, but teeth are critical to a child’s health and development. Children need healthy teeth to chew, and mouth pain can discourage them from eating. Additionally, teeth are essential to learning to speak, as pressing your tongue against your teeth is how you form certain sounds. If children cannot be understood by their teachers and peers, they can develop behavioral and self-esteem problems. Healthy teeth affect much more than just your child’s mouth!
