Baby Teeth: Why They're Much More Important Than Their Reputation Suggests

30.04.2026

Baby teeth are much more important than their reputation suggests! Learn more in our blog post from the Pediatric and Adolescent Dental Center.

Kamilla in Mainz explains why healthy baby teeth are the foundation for a strong set of permanent teeth—and how you can best support your child in this process.

Baby Teeth: Why They're Much More Important Than Their Reputation Suggests

Many parents think, “Baby teeth are going to fall out eventually anyway—so why go to all that trouble?” This common misconception can have long-term consequences for your child’s oral health, because the new teeth grow into the old tooth socket where cavity-causing bacteria have already taken hold. After all, baby teeth are much more than just placeholders. They are the foundation for healthy development—physically, linguistically, and socially.

At our Kamilla pediatric and adolescent dental practice in Mainz, we see every day just how important it is to take good care of a child’s first teeth. In this article, we’ll explain why baby teeth are so important—and how you can best support your child from the very beginning.

What exactly are baby teeth?

The primary dentition consists of a total of 20 teeth, which typically erupt between the age of 6 months and 3 years. The tooth buds—the foundation for the first set of teeth—begin to form while the baby is still in the womb. Around the age of 6, the process of losing baby teeth begins, which can continue into early adolescence.

5 Reasons Why Baby Teeth Are So Important

1. Space maintainers for permanent teeth

Baby teeth hold the space in the jaw that the permanent teeth will need later. If a baby tooth is lost too early—for example, due to tooth decay or an accident—the neighboring teeth can drift into the gap. The permanent teeth then no longer have enough space and erupt crooked or twisted. The result: extensive orthodontic treatment that could likely have been avoided with proper care of the baby teeth.

2. Chewing and Nutrition

Healthy baby teeth are essential for chewing food. Children with toothaches or missing teeth often avoid certain foods—especially hard vegetables, fruits, or meat. This can lead to an unbalanced diet and, in the worst case, to deficiency symptoms.

3. Language Development

Teeth play a central role in speech. Sounds like “S,” “F,” “W,” or “Z” cannot be produced correctly without the right teeth. Early tooth loss or untreated misalignments can significantly impair speech development—with potential consequences lasting into school age. The mobility of the lingual frenulum also affects tooth alignment, proper swallowing, a healthy lip seal, and the growth of the hard palate.

4. Self-Confidence and Social Development

A bright smile gives children self-confidence. Pain, discolored teeth, or missing teeth can cause children to talk less, laugh less, or hold back when playing. At our practice in Mainz, we regularly see how much children’s well-being improves once their oral health is restored.

5. Development of the Jaw and Muscles

Chewing stimulates and strengthens the jawbone. Baby teeth thus actively promote jaw growth and ensure that there is enough space for the permanent teeth. A healthy set of baby teeth is therefore literally the foundation for a healthy jaw.

Here's what our expert says

“Unfortunately, baby teeth are often underestimated. Yet they lay the foundation for the entire set of permanent teeth. Tooth decay in baby teeth is no trivial matter—it can cause pain, affect speech development, and damage the permanent teeth. Early preventive care is therefore not just an option, but an investment in your child’s health,”

said Dr. Sandra Goedecke of the Kamilla Pediatric and Adolescent Dental Practice in Mainz

Common Mistakes in Baby Teeth Care

Many well-intentioned habits can damage baby teeth. These include:

  • The “bottle-feeding syndrome”: When babies and toddlers fall asleep with a bottle containing sugar (juice, sweetened tea, or milk), the sugar coats their teeth for hours—creating an ideal environment for cavity-causing bacteria.
  • Parental saliva contact: Licking the pacifier transfers bacteria from the adult to the child during the first two years of life.
  • Brushing teeth too late: Even the very first tooth should be brushed twice a day—using an age-appropriate toothbrush and a small amount of fluoride-containing children’s toothpaste.
  • Missed dental visits: Many parents don’t take their children to the dentist until they experience pain. We recommend the first dental visit as soon as the first tooth erupts—but no later than the child’s first birthday.

Preventive Care at the Kamilla Practice in Mainz

At our Kamilla pediatric and adolescent dental practice in Mainz, we place great emphasis on prevention and a fear-free atmosphere. We support your child from their first teeth through adolescence and offer:

  • Early childhood checkups starting with the first tooth
  • Professional teeth cleaning for children and adolescents
  • Fluoridation treatments to protect against cavities
  • Sealing of the chewing surfaces of permanent molars
  • Parental guidance on proper dental care at home

By the way, did you know that good dental care during pregnancy is the earliest form of preventive dentistry?

Our experienced team led by Dr. Sandra Goedecke makes a visit to the dentist a positive experience for children—because when children have positive experiences at the dentist early on, they carry that attitude with them for a lifetime.

Conclusion: Baby teeth deserve your full attention

Baby teeth aren’t “just” temporary teeth. They are a fundamental building block for your child’s physical health, speech development, and well-being. By prioritizing care and preventive dentistry early on, you lay the foundation for a healthy, radiant smile—today and in the future.

Schedule an appointment now at our practice in Mainz, and let’s work together to ensure your child receives the best dental care right from the start.

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