{"id":238,"date":"2020-07-09T17:57:42","date_gmt":"2020-07-09T17:57:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.laithdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=238"},"modified":"2020-07-09T17:58:14","modified_gmt":"2020-07-09T17:58:14","slug":"family-dentist-san-antonio-explains-importance-of-treating-baby-teeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.laithdentistry.com\/blog\/2020\/07\/family-dentist-san-antonio-explains-importance-of-treating-baby-teeth\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Is It So Important to Treat Baby Teeth?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"YoungBaby teeth are designed to fall out eventually, and cavities among children are extremely common. In fact, they are one of the most common childhood diseases. For those reasons, many parents reason that dental decay in their young ones is not a big deal. They might even delay taking their children to the dentist if they complain of a toothache or other oral symptoms. That kind of thinking is a mistake! As a family dentist in San Antonio<\/a> is here to explain, treating childhood cavities is sometimes a matter of life and death.<\/p>\n

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The Danger of Untreated Cavities<\/h2>\n

A cavity begins when acids produced by bacteria eat through the tooth enamel and create a hole. At first, the cavity may just affect the outer layer of a tooth and not cause any obvious symptoms. Left untreated, however, it will continue to worsen. It will penetrate into the dentin (the second layer) of a tooth and eventually invade the pulp (the innermost layer).<\/p>\n

When dental decay reaches the center of a tooth, a monstrous toothache may result, but that is not the only sad consequence of this type of problem. The infection that instigated the cavity may spread into the tissues around the tooth. It can therefore affect the gums and the jawbone. Even worse, the dangerous bacteria can sneak into the bloodstream and affect major organs, including the brain. In some cases, an oral infection can even cause death.<\/p>\n

Although deaths from infections that began as a cavity are rare, they do <\/em>happen. In fact, hundreds of thousands of ER visits every year are related to dental problems. In 2007, a 12-year-old boy in Maryland even died<\/a> because he did not receive timely care for an abscessed tooth.<\/p>\n

More Reasons to Care for Baby Teeth<\/h2>\n

While the above information may be alarming, you don\u2019t have to live in constant fear that a dental problem will endanger your child\u2019s life. As long as you teach your child good oral hygiene habits and regularly bring them in for professional dental care, it is highly unlikely that they will suffer from a serious oral infection.<\/p>\n

Your diligence in caring for your little one\u2019s smile may not only preserve their overall health, but it could also:<\/p>\n