The primary teeth (baby teeth) are important because they help kids eat and speak; they also guide and help the permanent teeth to come up properly. Therefore, premature loss of baby teeth is not good for your kid. Here are some of the reasons your baby might lose their teeth prematurely.
Dental Trauma
Kids are very active. They are always running around, climbing things, and playing—all things that can end in physical accidents. A blow to the mouth, say if a child falls off their bike, can easily knock out a baby tooth.
Genetics
Some kids are genetically predisposed to lose their baby teeth earlier. Some kids are born with genetic conditions that increase the risk of premature loss of baby teeth. Here are a few examples of these genetic conditions.
Hypophosphatasia
This is a rare inherited disorder that disrupts the mineralisation of the bones and teeth. The minerals, mainly calcium and phosphorus, are the building blocks of the teeth. Without adequate minerals, the baby teeth end up being weak and fall prematurely.
Leukaemia
Leukaemia, which doctors think have both genetic and environmental causes, is a cancer of the tissues responsible for blood formation. If a child has leukaemia, the malignant blood cells can migrate to the gums, attack them, and weaken the teeth's roots. In the end, a child with the condition is likely to suffer the premature loss of baby teeth.
Dental Infections
Just like adults, children also get dental infections that can develop complications and end in teeth loss. Untreated gum disease, for example, can eat away into the gum tissues and the root of the teeth to the extent that the teeth might fall off. The risk of gum disease is particularly great in kids who love sugary snacks, have orthodontic problems, and don't maintain a high level of dental hygiene.
Teeth Extractions
It is rare for baby teeth to be extracted, but it can happen. Dental trauma or disease might leave the teeth too damaged to be treated, in which case extraction is the only viable option. For example, if a child experiences dental trauma that splits their teeth from the crown to the roots, the dentist might have no choice but to extract the tooth.
As you can see, some of these (such as dental infections) are things you can prevent while others are not preventable. Do your best to help your child maintain their natural teeth. All is not lost, however, if the child losses a tooth prematurely; the family dentist can use a space maintainer so that the child doesn't suffer the effects of premature tooth loss.
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