This is a common question we hear from parents, and we're glad you asked!
It's important to understand that baby teeth have several essential jobs to perform before they fall out, which doesn't happen until your child is around 5 or 6 years old. So it's important to protect the health of those small teeth until they've done their work.
Why Baby Teeth Are Important
Here's what your child's baby teeth are doing during their life span:
- Helping with speech development
- Enhancing your child's diet
- Holding space for incoming adult teeth
- Guiding adult teeth into the proper positions
If your child loses a baby tooth to trauma or decay before it's time, it may affect their overall oral development.
Reliable Treatment for Decayed Baby Teeth
When Dr. Wareham spots decay in your child's tooth in its earliest stages, he can typically treat it with a simple dental filling. A filling removes decay from your child's tooth and restores it so it can continue doing all its important jobs until it's time to fall out.
A filling also helps ensure your child doesn't have to endure any discomfort from tooth decay, which can become painful in some cases.
Contact your children's dentist in Lithia at (813) 438-5927 if you have further questions about tooth decay, cavities, and dental fillings for your child.