Primary teeth, also known as milk teeth are as important to infants and children as permanent teeth are to older children and adults. These first teeth are necessary for a child to chew and speak. Milk teeth serve another very important purpose-they save space for the child’s future permanent teeth. A milk tooth usually remains in the child’s mouth until a permanent tooth underneath it is ready to emerge through the gums. The roots of the milk tooth dissolve and the tooth becomes loose and falls out. The permanent tooth erupts a few weeks later. If a child loses a tooth too early,before the permanent tooth is ready to erupt, if it is accidently knocked out, or is removed by the dentist because of disease, the space must be saved. A space maintainer is inserted to take the place of the milk tooth until the permanent tooth is ready to emerge. If teeth on either side of the open space encroach upon the empty space, there may not be room for the permanent tooth. The new permanent tooth may erupt out of its proper position and can affect positioning of other teeth. If teeth become crowded and out of alignment with each other, then the teeth are maloccluded. Maloccluded teeth are difficult to clean, have greater chances of becoming diseased, and later might require expensive and time-consuming orthodontic treatment.

How to Clean Primary Teeth

• Good oral hygiene begins at birth. So it’s wise to get in the habit of cleaning your baby’s gums even before any primary teeth come in.
  As soon as the first baby tooth arrives, you can start brushing it with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
  Try to have your baby realize that you brush your teeth too. It can greatly influence their desire to brush like you do.
• What brushing technique should I show my child?
• You may want to supervise your children until they get the hang of these
  simple steps:
• Gently clean your baby’s gums after every feeding using a clean, damp wash cloth or a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head made just for babies.
  To brush baby teeth, use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste. Brush the front and back of your baby’s teeth, and lift your baby’s lips to make sure you get the gum line. You should brush your baby’s teeth twice a day.
  Use a pea-sized dab of an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. Take care that
  your child does not swallow the toothpaste.
• Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, brush the inside surface of each tooth first,
  where plaque may accumulate most. Brush gently back and forth.
• Clean the outer surfaces of each tooth. Angle the brush along the outer
  gumline, gently brush back and forth.
• Brush the chewing surface of each tooth. Gently brush back and forth.

• Use the tip of the brush to clean behind each front tooth, both top and
  bottom.
• Brush for 2 minutes to make sure all the bacteria is removed
  Make it fun to brush the tongue!

When should my child start flossing?

• Because flossing removes food particles and plaque between teeth that brushing
  misses, you should floss for your children beginning at age 4. By the time they reach
  age 8, most kids can begin flossing for themselves.
• When should a baby first see a Dentist?
• Good habits start early. So, establish your dental home with your dentist and schedule your child’s first dental visit shortly after the first tooth appears, and no later than your child’s first birthday.

How to prevent your children from getting cavities

• Teaching your child proper oral care at a young age is an investment in his or
  her health that will pay lifelong dividends. You can start by setting an
  example; taking good care of your own teeth sends a message that oral
  health is something to be valued, and anything that makes taking care of
  teeth fun, like brushing along with your child or letting them choose their own
  toothbrush, encourages proper oral care.
• To help your children protect their teeth and gums and greatly reduce their
  risk of getting cavities, teach them to follow these simple steps:
• Brush twice a day. Floss daily to remove plaque from between your teeth and
  under the gum line, before it can harden into tartar. Once tartar has formed, it
  can only be removed by a professional cleaning.
• Children under 7 years of age do not have the dexterity to brush efficiently on their own. Parents should brush their teeth twice a day.
• Eat a well-balanced diet that limits starchy or sugary foods, which produce
  plaque acids that cause tooth decay. When you do eat these foods, try to eat
  them with your meal instead of as a snack-the extra saliva produced during a
  meal helps rinse food from the mouth.
• Use dental products that contain fluoride, including toothpaste.
• If your water supply; municipal, well or bottled, does not contain fluoride, your dentist will prescribe daily fluoride supplements.
• Take your child to the dentist and oral hygienist for regular check-ups and polishing.