If you’re a parent, you probably remember the moment your child lost their first tooth. Excitement builds as they wait for the tooth fairy to visit, trading their tooth for a few coins or bills. While many parents keep that first lost tooth for sentimental reasons, the rest usually get discarded. However, experts are now urging parents to hold on to all of their children’s baby teeth— and for a good reason.

The Science Behind Saving Baby Teeth

According to scientists and doctors, keeping your child’s baby teeth could one day be a lifesaving decision, and it has nothing to do with sentimentality. The real reason? Baby teeth contain an abundance of stem cells, which have the potential to treat various life-threatening diseases in the future.

Stem cells are special cells that can develop into different types of tissue. They play a critical role in medical treatments, particularly in diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and certain forms of cancer. Many patients with these conditions must wait for a bone marrow donor match to receive stem cell treatments. But if you have stored your child’s baby teeth, the stem cells inside them could be used in treatment, potentially eliminating the need for a donor altogether.

How Stem Cells from Teeth Can Be Used

Stem cells extracted from baby teeth have incredible regenerative potential. They can develop into various types of cells, such as nerve, bone, or muscle tissue, which is why they are used in advanced medical therapies. In some cases, stem cells from a person’s own body—like those found in baby teeth—are preferred over donor stem cells because they are a perfect genetic match. This reduces the risk of rejection and other complications during treatments.

While the idea of using teeth to harvest stem cells might sound futuristic, it’s becoming increasingly common. Tooth banks specialize in preserving teeth properly, so the stem cells remain viable for future use. These stored stem cells could one day be essential for treating a wide variety of diseases, from autoimmune disorders to traumatic injuries.

Proper Storage is Key

If you’re thinking about keeping your child’s baby teeth, simply putting them in a box at home won’t cut it. In order for the stem cells to remain viable, the teeth must be stored in a specific way. Organizations like Tooth Bank offer professional storage services, ensuring that the stem cells can be harvested when needed. Without proper preservation, the stem cells in the teeth may become unusable over time.

But it’s not just baby teeth that can be saved. Wisdom teeth and other extracted teeth can also be valuable sources of stem cells. If your child is scheduled for a tooth extraction, it’s worth discussing tooth banking options with your dentist. They can guide you on how to properly store the teeth for potential future use.

Planning for the Future

As parents, the last thing we want to imagine is our child being diagnosed with a serious illness. It’s a terrifying thought, but by taking steps like preserving their baby teeth, you’re planning for a future where treatment options could be more accessible and effective.

The hope, of course, is that you’ll never need to use those stored stem cells. However, having them available could be a game-changer if your child—or even a close relative—develops a condition that can be treated with stem cell therapy. Medical advancements continue to show the potential of stem cells in treating various diseases, and by saving your child’s teeth, you’re giving them a lifeline if they ever need it.

Conclusion: Why Saving Baby Teeth Matters

In the past, baby teeth were little more than a nostalgic keepsake or a token for the tooth fairy. But as scientific understanding of stem cells advances, those tiny teeth are proving to be much more valuable than we ever realized. By storing your child’s baby teeth properly, you’re investing in their future health and providing a potential treatment option should they ever need it.

The next time your child loses a tooth, consider saving it—not just for sentimental reasons, but for the stem cells that could one day make all the difference in a medical emergency. Talk to your dentist about tooth banking and make an informed decision that could safeguard your child’s health in the years to come.