Most babies are born with 20 primary teeth, some of which are already completely formed inside the jaw. Most people begin to lose their primary teeth (also called baby teeth) around 5 or 6 years of age, and within the next few years their full set of adult teeth come in. Some people might wonder how important it is to keep baby teeth healthy if they're going to fall out anyway. However, it's very important that baby teeth be care for just as well as adult teeth.

Neglecting your child's baby teeth is dangerous for the oral health of your child. The best time to begin proper oral hygiene habits is when your child is young. If children do not see taking care of their teeth as a priority when they are still young, it is less likely to be a priority when they get older.

In addition to learning good habits, keeping baby teeth healthy is important for a number of other reasons as well. Healthy baby teeth help to maintain good nutrition by allowing your child to chew properly. If a child's teeth are already decayed, he or she may have trouble chewing and developing good nutrition habits. In addition, healthy baby teeth are also important for speech development.

There are a number of ways you can help ensure your children's baby teeth stay healthy until they naturally fall out on their own:

Start young
Even babies without teeth can develop tooth decay if they are not cared for properly - just because you can't see the teeth, it doesn't mean they aren't there. Your baby's teeth are developed while in the womb, and proper care of the teeth and gums should begin in infancy. Experts recommend running a damp washcloth over your baby's teeth after nursing or bottle feeding to prevent the build-up of bacteria in the mouth and on the gums. And once the child's teeth begin to show, you can brush them with a very soft toothbrush or run gauze over them each day.

In addition, you shouldn't put your child to bed with a bottle. While it may be a convenient way to get the baby to fall asleep, the sugars found in juice and milk stay on the baby's teeth for hours and erode the enamel, leading to bottle mouth, which results in discolored or puckered baby teeth.

You should also take your child to the dentist regularly, beginning at the age of one. Here, the dentist will conduct a small exam with your baby on your lap and also help you learn how to care for your child's baby teeth through brushing, flossing, and other important ways. It's a good idea to use a pediatric dentist for your child instead of a general practice dentist. A pediatric dentist deals solely with children.
Caring for baby teeth and keeping them healthy until they fall out on their own is important to your child's overall health. By encouraging good dental habits at a young age, your children will enjoy healthy teeth their whole lives.