How Childhood Dental Health Impacts Adulthood Dental Health

You may be aware of baby bottle tooth decay and thought, “does it matter that baby chompers rot since they fall out anyway?” The answer is very much yes. Read below to find out why.

Although baby bottle tooth decay impacts the baby pearly whites, effects from the disorder can carry into adulthood. Since baby chompers are placeholders for adult chompers, premature loss of baby teeth can affect the spacing of adult teeth, potentially fashioning crooked teeth that need orthodontic services. Other side effects of baby bottle tooth decay include the need for speech therapy (when speech-significant pearly whites are lost) and bad oral habits that affect everything from self-confidence to diet problems.

Though baby bottle tooth decay is the most prevalent sickness for children under 6 years old in the United States, not all children are equally vulnerable. Studies have found that risk factors are greater for Mexican-American children and for those who have visited a dentist within 12 months. Children living in conditions below the poverty line are also additionally susceptible to developing baby bottle tooth decay.

The Copper Cove Pediatric Dentistry team in Herriman, Utah, is composed of baby bottle tooth decay experts. When you work with Dr. Troy Hardy and their team, you can have confidence that you’re in the right hands. Please call 801-446-2080 now so the team can schedule your next visit.