The Truth About Baby Teeth: Why Little Smiles Need Big Care
At Tooth Fairy & Co, we hear it all the time:
“It’s just a baby tooth – it’ll fall out anyway!”
While that might seem logical at first glance, the truth is that baby teeth (or primary teeth) are essential to your child’s health, development, and confidence. They may be temporary, but their role is anything but minor.
So today, your local Tooth Fairy is here to sprinkle a little wisdom and explain why caring for baby teeth is so important – and what could happen if we don’t.
1. Because Pain Isn’t Just for Grown-Up Teeth
Some baby teeth stick around until kids are 12–13 years old – that's over a decade of being responsible for chewing, smiling, and speaking!
Unfortunately, tooth decay in baby teeth is very real, and sadly very common. In fact, over 40% of Aussie kids aged 5–10 have experienced decay in their baby teeth.*
And when decay hits, it can cause serious pain – the kind that interferes with eating, sleeping, and learning. In some cases, dental infections can spread and affect the underlying adult teeth or lead to emergency hospital visits.
We’ve seen brave little ones go through procedures like fillings, extractions, and anaesthetic that could have been avoided with early care and prevention.
2. Because Healthy Teeth = Healthy Bodies
Baby teeth aren’t just for biting into apples. They play a huge role in your child’s overall health.
Pain or infection can make eating uncomfortable, which may lead to poor nutrition. Plus, dental infections put added pressure on the immune system, making your child more vulnerable to illness.
Keeping baby teeth clean and strong supports their whole-body wellness
3. Because Speech Development Depends On Them
Those little teeth help children learn how to form sounds, pronounce words, and speak confidently.
Missing or damaged baby teeth can interfere with the tongue, lips, and cheeks working together to create clear speech. This can impact everything from classroom learning to making new friends.
4. Because a Smile Builds Confidence
A child’s smile is pure magic, and when that smile is affected by stained, decayed, or missing teeth, it can impact their self-esteem.
We’ve seen children become shy or stop smiling altogether because they feel embarrassed. As Tooth Fairies, nothing breaks our hearts more.
Helping kids love their smiles helps them step into the world with confidence.
5. Because Baby Teeth are Smile Spaceholders
Think of baby teeth like tiny guardians holding space for the adult teeth waiting underneath.
If baby teeth are lost too early due to decay or trauma, the neighbouring teeth can shift and block the space meant for their bigger siblings, which often leads to overcrowding or crooked adult teeth, and the need for orthodontics later on.
The Tooth Fairy’s Final Word...
Baby teeth matter more than most people realise. They're not just for chewing – they support healthy development in so many ways.
So next time you hear someone say, “It’s only a baby tooth”, remember what you’ve learned today. And if you're looking for a gentle, caring dental team to guide your little one’s smile journey, your local Tooth Fairy is ready and waiting!
Book an appointment with Tooth Fairy & Co. and let us give your child’s smile the magical care it deserves.
*Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2019. Oral health and dental care in Australia.
