Many people think that because baby teeth eventually just fall out, that it isn't extremely important to take good care of them.  However, this isn't the case at all.  It is as important to take care of baby teeth as it is to take care of permanent teeth once they come in.  Here are several reasons why it is important, as well as the potential negative affects that can occur as a result of taking poor care of the baby teeth.

?    It is extremely important for babies and little children to have strong and healthy teeth to develop their ability to speak.  Children being learning to talk clearly early on and it is crucial that their mouth is healthy so their speech patterns aren't negatively affected from the beginning.  Once their speech has developed, it is difficult in later years to overcome any problems that have may have risen.
?    It is necessary for children's nutrition that they have healthy teeth to be able to chew their food thoroughly.  If the baby teeth aren't taken care, they may cause pain or fall out prematurely which will hinder the child from chewing their food completely.  This can then cause nutritional and digestive problems
?    One of the primary reasons for having baby teeth is to create space for the permanent teeth to come in.  If baby teeth aren't cared for, it is more than likely that they will rot or fall out early.  This can have a devastating effect on the permanent teeth when they come in.  In most cases, it will cause the permanent teeth to grow in too close together and crowded which can cause them to be severely crooked.  On the other hand, if baby teeth are cared for and kept healthy, they will create the necessary space for the permanent teeth to come in straight.  This could save a lot of time and money on braces later on in life.
?    When baby teeth aren't cared for and brushed, bacteria remains in the mouth and spreads.  This causes decay to other teeth, damage to the gums and may even cause damage to the developing permanent teeth.  It is important that the teeth are brushed so bacteria in the mouth will be killed and removed so more serious problems don't arise.
?    Children will more than likely experience pain and toothaches if their baby teeth aren't cared for properly.  This is unnecessary suffering that could easily be avoided by taking care of the baby teeth.
?     We all begin to develop our self-esteem and confidence from the time that we are little children.  Children whose baby teeth aren't cared for may struggle with themselves from an earlier age, especially if it does cause problems to permanent teeth.  However, if baby teeth are cared for and bring in healthy permanent teeth, it will help the child develop a healthy self image early on in life.
?    It is crucial for the child's future dental health that they are taught from an early age that taking care of their teeth is extremely important.  Habits form early on in life and it is crucial that children understand that they must care for their teeth.  If this is neglected to be taught to the children when they are little, chances are it will not be a priority as the child grows which will most likely cause very serious dental problems later on in life.

It is an incredibly big mistake to assume that it is not important to care for baby teeth because they are going to fall out anyway.  It is crucial that teeth are cared for properly from the beginning to ensure healthy permanent teeth will grow in and to promote healthy oral care throughout the child's life.