Nursery World - A parent's guide to healthy teeth

Understanding the importance of a healthy diet, and how tooth decay can happen, is the first step to your child having a mouth full of healthy, white teeth. Do milk teeth matter?

Do milk teeth matter?

Yes, they do! Though we lose our first set of teeth, they serve a number of key functions. First, they enable your child to eat properly. Second, they maintain the correct space for the permanent teeth to grow into. Third, they help your child to speak clearly (children who lose their milk teeth early may end up with speech problems). And fourth, they give your child a confident smile.

How should I care for my child's teeth?

Your child's teeth need to be cleaned twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. This helps the mouth to remain healthy, which is important as an infection in a milk tooth can damage the permanent tooth underneath and could result in a dental abscess.

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