After the joy of departure, the teeth of the children are often ignored because they are not “real”. If you are the one who only expects the arrival of the mouse to get rid of them, you will be surprised to know that they could tell you more about the future behavior (and even mental health) of your child.
This curious idea comes from the mind of the researcher at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Erin Dunn, who became the object of study, convinced that these small teeth could allow pre-empting problems mental health in children.
Luckily for the scientist, 37 parents from California donated a tooth of milk of their children of 6 years to a study that had the objective of monitoring their health for 7 years, evaluating how the behavior of the children evolved during this time.
Surprisingly, it was possible to detect the relationship between certain characteristics of the teeth with later symptoms of emotional problems, behavior and the inability to pay attention or listen to their parents and teachers, this after performing high-resolution image analysis to know the volume of the pulp and enamel.
The results revealed that a finer enamel corresponded to children with greater symptoms; also, the volume of the pulp was related to the level of emotional and behavioral problems. For Dunn, it is possible that the differences in enamel thickness have to do with aspects such as nutrition and stress of the mother during pregnancy or even how the baby experienced his environment, since according to the scientist, the incisors (teeth that were studied), record events that occur between pregnancy and the first year of life, time that takes to form.
Although Dunn still does not have the concrete answers of what teeth register and what causes the difference in the enamel and the pulp, as well as how it happens, advances in this research open a window of opportunity for the prevention of mental illnesses.
Milk teeth also matter
Beyond if in the future they will help parents to prevent behavior problems or mental health of their children, these teeth are as important as the final, so it is important to take care of them and know some data:
– They contain stem cells. A study published in 2003, confirms that the pulp contains these cells, which are valued for their ability to regenerate tissues from various parts of the body. To take advantage of them, the teeth must be extracted by a dentist and stored in a bank of stem cells.
– They are important for pronunciation. The teeth not only allow us to eat, but also to speak correctly, because thanks to them it is possible to pronounce correctly the sound of letters like S, F, T or C.
– Cavities also affect them. And, according to specialists, the decay of milk teeth increases the likelihood that they will also develop in permanent teeth. That is why it is not only important to maintain good hygiene, but also to attend a revision from the first year.
Taking care of your child’s dental hygiene is as important as being aware of their mental health, in this way, even if their teeth do not prevent you, you can act in case of noticing warning signs.
