Baby teeth serve the important function of eating, speech, and esthetics (self image). These teeth not only help form the developing jaws, but they hold space for the permanent teeth so that a normal bite occurs. The last baby tooth falls out at about twelve years of age. A decayed baby tooth can become so badly decayed that it can do damage to the permanent tooth. At times severe infections of the face, head, and neck can be caused by infected baby teeth.

Primary, or "baby," teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt. See similar questions...

Even though primary (baby) teeth eventually fall out, they reserve space for your child's permanent teeth. So if a tooth is lost too early, new teeth could grow in crooked. See similar questions...

Baby teeth help children to eat well, to look nice and to learn how to speak clearly. They also save a space for the adult teeth that are developing under the gums. Keeping baby teeth healthy is important because some of these teeth may remain in the mouth until the age of 12 or 13! If teeth are not properly cared for, tooth decay may develop. Tooth decay is progressive and cavities get bigger when untreated. See similar questions...

Primary (or baby) teeth act as natural spaces for the permanent teeth. If lost prematurely, the other baby teeth drift into spaces and block the erupting permanent tooth out. The presence of primary tooth also allows for the underlying permanent tooth to develop at a normal rate See similar questions...

Unless a baby tooth will fall out in the next several months, it is generally unwise to leave decay on baby teeth. Decay can easily move to other baby teeth or even to permanent teeth. It can also cause pain, and possibly lead to facial infections, and expensive orthodontic problems that could have been avoided. We recommend carefully restoring all decayed teeth to optimal health. See similar questions...

Primary teeth, or baby teeth last approximately 1/7th of a lifetime. Cavities in primary teeth can cause toothaches and infections, just as they do in adults. Moreover, an infection in the baby tooth can result in damage to the underlying permanent tooth. If a primary tooth is lost prematurely, the back teeth may move forward into the empty space and block out the unerupted permanent tooth creating an impaction and an orthodontic problem. See similar questions...

It is very important to maintain the baby teeth because these teeth hold space for the future eruption of the permanent teeth. If a baby tooth decays or is removed too early, the space necessary for the permanent teeth is lost and can only be regained through orthodontic treatment. Infected baby teeth can cause the permanent teeth to develop improperly resulting in stains, pits and weaker teeth. See similar questions...

Baby teeth are very important. Most of us tend to ignore the health of baby teeth thinking that they are going fall out but once ignored the baby teeth tend to decay which may cause pain to the child, the child may not eat proper finally effecting the child's health. Also baby teeth act as space maintainers for permanent teeth. Removal of baby teeth may cause closure of spaces for permanent teeth to erupt leading to crowding of the permanent teeth. See similar questions...

It is very important to maintain the health of the primary teeth. We are often asked "why put fillings in baby teeth when they will fall out anyway?" Neglected cavities can and frequently do lead to problems which affect developing permanent teeth. The primary teeth allow your child to chew properly, thus enabling proper nutrition. It is found that children with significant cavities are often underweight. See similar questions...

Children go through two phases of teething; the front teeth may be lost between 6 and 8 years of age, while the twelve primary back teeth (molars and canines) are not lost until about age 12. An untreated cavity can create an infection and cause your child pain, facial swelling, missed sleep and time out of school. See similar questions...

Yes. Infected baby teeth or roots left untreated can spread poison into the bloodstream. If a baby tooth is lost prematurely, the neighboring teeth will slip and drift, blocking space of the developing adult teeth. This leads to crooked teeth, improperly chewing of food, due to loss of teeth, will upset normal digestion. Believe it or not, normal speech depends upon properly placed teeth. Early loss of baby teeth often leads to bad speech habits, which continue into adulthood. See similar questions...