05/17/2026
Primary (“baby”) teeth are SO important, and many parents understandably don’t realize this. Please see below. 🦷🙂
Most parents think baby teeth “don’t matter” because they eventually fall out.
But dentists have known for years that severe decay in baby teeth can sometimes affect the permanent teeth developing underneath.
When cavities in primary teeth become deep or infected, the bacteria and inflammation may interfere with the enamel formation of the adult tooth below.
Research has linked severe decay in baby teeth with developmental enamel defects, discoloration, delayed eruption, and structural changes in some permanent teeth. Early loss of baby teeth can also contribute to crowding and alignment problems later in life.
Primary teeth help guide jaw growth, maintain space for incoming adult teeth, and support normal chewing and speech during childhood. Keeping them healthy is an important part of protecting long-term oral development.
📄 References:
1. Lo ECM et al. SAGE Journals — Does Caries in Primary Teeth Predict Enamel Defects in Permanent Successors?
2. Carvalho JC et al. NIH/PMC — Dental caries in deciduous teeth associated with delayed permanent tooth development
