5 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,A ugust 18,2022 insidehalton.com Everyone is born with two sets of teeth; their primary (baby) teeth and their permanent (adult) teeth. Both sets of teeth serve a purpose and if lost prematurely may cause problems with the rest of the mouth. The baby teeth typically start erupting by 6 months of age with the lower central incisor teeth. It is imperative that the baby teeth are kept until the adult teeth are ready to come in. Premature loss of the baby teeth can cause shifting of adjacent teeth thus when the adult tooth starts to erupt it may have no room to grow into and either may fail to erupt or come in an odd way. If a child develops a cavity, fracture or damage to a baby tooth, it is imperative to try and keep the tooth until it naturally exfoliates. If a baby tooth must be extracted, a space maintainer may be recommended to keep the space open for the adult tooth to erupt into in the future. The permanent/adult teeth typically start to erupt around the age of 6. When the adult teeth start to move upwards towards the gums it starts to dissolve the root of the baby tooth and ultimately the tooth falls out. When an adult tooth first erupts in the mouth it is not fullymineralized/full strength and may take a few years for the enamel to become its strongest. It is in this time period that the tooth needs fluoride exposure, as fluoride is what helps mineralize/strengthen the enamel of the tooth. Without fluoride, exposure to cavity- causingbacteria and carbohydrates, the tooth may become prone to dental cavities/decay. Supplemental fluoride is recommended to prevent decay; this can be discussed with your oral healthcare provider. Premature loss of a baby tooth or loss of an adult tooth should be avoided at all costs. A missing tooth can put extra stress on the remaining teeth, ultimately weakening the entire structure. A missing tooth can also alter your bite and may also cause TMJ (jaw) joint problems. When a tooth is lost or extracted, discussion of replacement of the tooth is priority to prevent these problems. "Remember to take care of all of your teeth, primary or permanent because you only get the two sets," says Dr. Vineet Bhandari of Bhandari Dental in Oakville. You only get two sets of teeth 2525 Old Bronte Rd. Ste. 470 Oakville 289-813-8239 www.bhandaridental.com Dr. Vineet Bhandari dentist -- ADVERTORIAL --