What is an Odontoclast?
Few people realize that tooth decay is actually the world’s most common disease. More than the influenza, and the common cold, tooth decay afflicts the world’s human population. Teeth are made of organic material and they have to be protected. This is even true of deciduous teeth.
Teeth are extremely important, which is why we get two different sets. Baby teeth are ideal for smaller mouths, but they’re never meant to be permanent. These teeth will one day be partially absorbed by the growing child in a process known as resorption. The child’s mouth has to make room for new teeth while leaving the child with enough teeth to chew. It’s a delicate balance that’s assisted by the odontoclast cells. These are recently discovered cells that aid the body in partially absorbing the baby teeth.
What happens to Baby Teeth
Have you ever wondered how baby teeth know to make room for their adult counterparts? Many people assume the new tooth simply pushes the older tooth from the child’s gums, but this is untrue. The child’s body actually begins to reabsorb the tooth to have nutrients to form the new tooth. If the old tooth simply pushed the older tooth out of the way, it wouldn’t take so long for adult teeth to grow in after the deciduous tooth is gone.
Once the resorption process has begun, the baby teeth will naturally become lose and fall out. For this reason, some people may take the temporary teeth for granted. However, baby teeth are more valuable than some parents realize.
It’s important to teach children about dental hygiene long before the odontoclast cells are activated. A child who had no value of dental hygiene won’t suddenly develop an appreciation or his or her teeth. It’s important to teach children to brush, floss and gargle their tiny teeth so it becomes second nature, and a visit to your Houston endodontist becomes far less likely!