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How to Care for Baby Teeth

Your baby's dental health is important to pay attention to before and after baby teeth appear. Caring for baby teeth will ensure that Baby's smile will become strong and healthy. We've gathered tips about how to care for your baby's first teeth and what makes them so special.

Importance of Primary Teeth

It's important to take care of primary teeth until they are naturally lost and put under the pillow for the tooth fairy. Although you can't see them at birth, there are 20 primary teeth under an infant's gums. As the child gets older, these primary teeth make way for 32 permanent teeth. "Early loss of primary teeth can lead to future space crowding problems as the permanent teeth erupt," says Jed Jacobson, DDS, MS, MPH Senior Vice President, Professional Services, and Chief Science Officer for Delta Dental. "In addition, early loss of primary teeth may cause some psychosocial issues for the child due to speech or appearance problems."

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