The last thing you’d want to see is your child in pain. Unfortunately, because of children’s lack of diligence in practicing good oral hygiene, they’re extra susceptible to developing oral health problems. If your little one is experiencing discomfort, pulling their primary teeth isn’t the best option for their future smile. To keep their small grin healthy and happy for years to come, read on to learn how you can treat decayed baby teeth instead of pulling them too soon.
Growing Primary Teeth
Your baby’s primary teeth should begin peeking through their gums between 6 months and 1 year. Typically, the front teeth will be the first that appear, but every child is different. When they grow in, your baby may have sore gums. To ease this, you can rub a clean finger over them, or a cool teaspoon to help soothe their discomfort. If you notice they’re experiencing excessive discomfort, taking them to the dentist can help get the answers you need.
Reasons Not To Pull Baby Teeth Too Early
Your little one’s teeth are vital to their development and future oral health. They help your child learn how to properly do basic functions such as chew and speak properly. They also act as a blueprint for their permanent teeth to know where to grow into. When their primary teeth go missing too early, when their adult teeth grow in, they can drift into the empty spaces in their mouth, causing your little one’s teeth to grow in crooked or crowded.
Starting infants off with great oral hygiene and regular dental visits can help protect their smile well into adulthood. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s difficult to get children to be diligent about their hygiene practices at home. Some common oral problems that children develop include cavities, infections, and decay. Because bacteria, plaque, and tartar aren’t being regularly removed from their mouth, their teeth can become infected and result in discomfort.
Pulp Treatment Can Save Your Child’s Adult Smile
If your little one is voicing that they have severe toothaches, it could be caused by decay that has spread to the inner portion of their tooth. This is because the nerve or pulp has become infected, likely due to poor oral hygiene practices. Luckily, your dentist can treat and restore their affected tooth before it spreads. With pulp therapy, you can get rid of your child’s discomfort, sensitivity, swelling and inflammation, and save their primary tooth from being pulled too early.
During this procedure, your dentist will remove the affected pulp and apply a medication which helps prevent further infection. They’ll then fill the tooth and place a crown to protect and restore the tooth’s structure.
Saving your child’s primary teeth will save your child the discomfort and headache of future oral health problems. It will also reduce the risk of their permanent teeth growing in misaligned and crowded. Remember, even though their baby teeth are bound to fall out eventually, they’re still vital to their overall development and future smile!
About the Author
Dr. Layne Benzley is certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. He understands that a child’s oral health is vital to their future confidence in their smile. As a parent himself, he understands how worrisome it can be to see your child in pain, which is why he takes pride in providing gentle and high-quality care. For questions or to schedule an appointment for your child, visit Castle Rock Smiles Pediatric Dentistry’s website or contact 303-660-5373.
