When Oral Health Begins, Everything That Follows Changes
Richard Marks
By the time most children lose their first tooth, their dental story has already begun—shaped by habits, nutrition, and often, silence around oral care. One of the most persistent myths in pediatric dentistry is that baby teeth don’t matter because they’re temporary. In truth, these first teeth play an outsized role in a child’s development. They influence how the jaw forms, how a child speaks and eats, and whether adult teeth have the space and guidance they need to emerge without complication.
When cavities strike early, the consequences can extend well beyond the tooth itself. Pain, infection, and interrupted sleep are only the beginning. If left untreated, even small problems can alter the path of oral development in ways that echo for decades.







