Milk teeth (primary teeth) are very important for the growth of the jaws, to keep space for the permanent teeth and for chewing food for a growing child. Healthy teeth are a confidence booster.
‘Baby bottle caries’ is the main cause for cavities and loss of milk teeth in babies and toddlers.
Children begin to get their baby teeth during the first 6 months of life. By age 6 or 7 years, they start to lose their first set of teeth, which eventually are replaced by secondary, permanent teeth.
Without proper dental care, children face possible oral decay and disease that can cause a lifetime of pain and complications. Early childhood dental caries, an infectious disease, is 5 times more common in children than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever. About 1 out of 5 (20%) children aged 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth.
Paediatric dentists provide comprehensive oral health care that includes the following:
