Answers to some frequently-asked questions:

Q: Why do we have two sets of teeth?

A: A child needs teeth long before his or her jaw is big enough to accommodate the full set of adult teeth. Baby, or deciduous, teeth are ìstartersî in every sense of the word.

Q: Why worry about cavities if baby teeth fall out on their own?

A: Baby teeth are important ìguidesî that help frame the development of adult teeth, even the jaw. In fact, the beginnings or ìbudsî of adult teeth are right behind the baby teeth starting at birth. Badly decayed baby teeth can pass the disease back, and donít help the permanent teeth grow in properly.

Q: How do baby teeth ìknowî when to fall out?

A: Theyíre effectively pressed out by properly developing adult teeth. As grownup teeth grow and press through the jaw to the mouthís interior, they cause the baby-tooth roots to dissolve.

Q: Whatóif anythingóshould I do about a loose baby tooth?

A: Ideally, a loose tooth will fall out on its own or (since they are the only ones who truly know how loose it is) the child will pull it out themselves. But, if itís really wiggling and needs to be removed, grip it firmly with a clean hanky and rock it out gently.