Baby Teeth

A Growing Mouth

Baby teeth only last a few years, but they are important for many reasons. Perhaps the most important reason to give those baby teeth the best possible start is that they help shape the mouth for the permanent teeth that follow. Amazingly, they even help guide the permanent teeth into position! So, if baby teeth come out too early due to decay or poor gum care, the subsequent permanent teeth are more likely to overlap or grow in the wrong direction.

It's also worth knowing that the enamel on baby teeth is thinner than that on adult teeth, so extra care is absolutely necessary. It's never too early to start establishing good brushing habits.

What The Different Teeth Do

Your children should eventually have 20 baby teeth in total (they'll get 32 adult teeth later when their mouths have grown big enough). Baby teeth are made up of three different types of teeth designed to handle the different kinds of food we eat:

INCISORS
The flat front teeth. They're made for biting into food.

CANINES
The pointy teeth are perfect for tearing food apart.

MOLARS
The big teeth at the back of your mouth. They crush and grind food into small pieces.

When your children get their permanent teeth, they'll also develop premolars.