Why do I have baby teeth?

The first teeth you get are your baby teeth. Sometimes they are also called your primary teeth. You will have 10 on the top and 10 on the bottom. Baby teeth help you to talk and chew. But they also "save space" in your mouth so that there is room for your permanent teeth. When all your permanent teeth have come in, you'll have 32 teeth all together. There will be 16 on the top, and 16 on the bottom. Out of these 32 teeth, 20 replace baby teeth, and the other 12 are new, permanent molars.

Will I lose my baby teeth?

When you get a little older, your baby teeth will loosen and fall out on their own to make room for permanent teeth. Most children begin to lose their baby teeth by age 6 or 7, although sometimes baby teeth fall out up to a year or two earlier or later. Girls generally lose baby teeth earlier than do boys. The last baby teeth typically fall out by age 12 or 13.

Do I have to brush my teeth?

You’ve all heard Mom or Dad ask you this and think this is just one more way for them to nag you, but they really do have a point. If you don’t brush your teeth, something called plaque will form on your teeth very quickly. What is plaque? It’s a film that grabs onto your teeth. It squirts harmful acids on your teeth. This acid causes your teeth to decay. Plaque forms all the time, 24 hours a day. Imagine all that nasty bacteria trying to cling to your teeth making way for cavities, bad breath, irritation, bleeding gums and worse. This is why it is so important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. If you take the time to brush and floss, you stop the nasty plaque from forming and harming your teeth and gums. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day… just after breakfast and before you go to bed are the best times. Take your time and make sure you brush all your teeth in the front and in back. The brush should be placed against the teeth at an angle. A careful brushing should take about 3 minutes.

Should I drink soda or water?

Drinking lots of liquids is very important to overall health. As an active youngster, you lose two or more quarts of water daily, so your body needs to a good supply of fluids. Today, many kids and adults sip bottled soda pop or sports drinks while on the go. But, did you know drinking acidic, sugary beverages all day can lead to tooth decay? Drinking lots of soda has also been linked to other health problems too, like diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis. So, next time you’re thirsty, reach for a bottle of fluoridated water. The water is refreshing and the fluoride protects against tooth decay, rebuilds tooth enamel and strengthens bones. If you do drink soft drinks:

• Don’t drink them too often and don’t sip for long periods of time.
• Use a straw to keep the sugar away from your teeth.
• After drinking, swish your mouth out with water to dilute the acid and sugar.
• Don’t drink soda before going to bed, because the liquid pools in your mouth and coats your tongue and teeth with sugary acid.