Baby-Teeth Basics

Just because your child's pearly whites will wind up with the Tooth Fairy one day doesn't mean you should treat them like temps. Healthy baby teeth are essential for helping kids learn to chew, speak clearly, and smile with confidence, and for ensuring that their permanent teeth come in properly.

Although parents pay close attention to a toddler's every sniffle, they often overlook her oral health. Bad idea. Dental disease is the single most common childhood illness, and a 2007 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that cavities among young kids are on the rise; 28 percent of them have cavities in their baby teeth. For your child, that could mean a trip to the dentist for scary drilling. The good news: Tooth decay is almost totally preventable -- as long as you take good care of your child's choppers.