A healthy oral condition helps tremendously in improving the overall health of the individual. In life, every person goes through two sets of teeth: milk teeth or baby teeth and permanent teeth. Here, milk teeth are the first set of teeth that erupt in an individual which remains till their teenage years.

At some point, the milk teeth fall off or they are removed and a new set of teeth erupts which are called permanent teeth. These permanent teeth are the last set of teeth to erupt in the mouth that stays along with the life. This has made it very important for any person to take care of these teeth set in a better way and ensures that they remain decay-free.

What is the basic difference between milk teeth and permanent teeth?

It is easier for dental experts to analyze the difference between milk teeth and permanent teeth. However, common people may want to know some basic differences between these teeth set.

Here are some of the basic difference between milk teeth and permanent teeth:

• Milk teeth are the first set of teeth erupting in the human, while permanent teeth are the second and last set of teeth erupting in the human.
• There are a total of 20 milk teeth, while the numbers of permanent teeth are 32 in number.
• Milk teeth are smaller in size, while permanent teeth are larger.
• Milk teeth appear whiter in color, while the permanent teeth appear a little less white. The difference in the color can be easily observed when the permanent teeth erupt to the adjacent of the milk teeth.
• Milk teeth have weaker roots, while the permanent teeth are stronger comparatively. This makes it easier for the removal of the milk teeth.
• The enamel layer of the milk teeth on the teeth surface is weaker, while the enamel layer of the permanent teeth is stronger. It makes the milk teeth more vulnerable to cavity development.

These are some of the basic differences between milk teeth and permanent teeth. It can help you to analyze the type of teeth more easily. It is important to take care of all 32 permanent teeth properly.

How do permanent teeth impact oral health?

Permanent teeth being the last set of teeth erupting in an individual and problems in these teeth affect oral health.

Here are the ways permanent teeth impacting oral health:

1. New teeth do not erupt after losing

As permanent teeth are the last teeth set, there are no chances of the eruption of the new natural tooth after losing it. So, you have to either leave with the space between teeth or go through some of the alternate dental treatments for putting artificial teeth in the place.

2. Decay in a single tooth affects neighboring tooth

Whenever any of the permanent teeth gets decayed, the cavity starts spreading in the neighboring tooth. It also starts to decay adjacent tooth making a huge impact on a person.

3. Causes pain

The decay of the permanent teeth causes more pain as the roots are stronger. In some cases, the decay reaches the pulp of the tooth that causes more pain. Here, the patient has to either remove the tooth or go through the root canal treatment which is usually painful.

4. Gum disease

Whenever a thick plaque or tartar layer develops on the teeth surface, it also reaches the gum areas. It leads to different gum diseases like Gingivitis or Periodontitis. Gum disease leads to the problems like bleeding, swelling, pain while chewing food, etc. The treatment process of gum disease is difficult.

5. Effects on Orthodontic treatment

When a person has other oral health problems like underbite, crossbite, crooked teeth, improper jaw matching, or any kind of teeth misalignment, they need to go through Orthodontic treatment. However, if a person is having decayed or impacted a permanent tooth then it becomes difficult for the Orthodontist to go directly for the treatment.

They expect the teeth to condition properly while going for the most general treatment like braces. A proper condition of the permanent teeth will help to achieve better Orthodontic treatment.

This is the reason for permanent teeth impacting different oral health factors. As you have understood the difference between milk teeth and permanent teeth, it is important to take care of both teeth.

A proper condition of milk tooth will give a proper direction and environment for the growth of the permanent tooth. Many people use teeth whitening products for making their teeth appear whiter.

However, make sure that you consult a proper dentist while going for any of the teeth whitening products as they will affect the permanent teeth. Regular dental checkups will help you to know about minor dental problems. A proper oral health habit can be beneficial for permanent teeth health.