When do babies typically start teething. Is it normal for a baby to develop teeth at 2 months old. What are the stages of teething in infants and young children. How can parents help soothe teething discomfort.

Understanding Early Tooth Development in Infants

The emergence of a baby’s first tooth is an exciting milestone for parents. While most infants begin teething around 6 months of age, some may experience this developmental stage much earlier. In rare cases, babies may even be born with a tooth or develop one within the first few months of life.

Can babies really develop teeth at 2 months old? Yes, although it’s uncommon, it is possible for infants to start teething as early as 2-3 months. This early tooth development, while surprising, is generally not a cause for concern.

Factors Influencing Early Tooth Eruption

• Genetics
• Nutritional status
• Hormonal factors
• Individual developmental patterns

Is early teething harmful to a baby’s health? In most cases, early tooth development does not pose any significant health risks. However, parents should monitor their child’s oral health closely and consult with a pediatric dentist if they have concerns.

The Normal Timeline of Teething in Babies

While early teething can occur, it’s helpful for parents to understand the typical timeline for tooth development in infants and young children.

1. 6-8 months: Lower central incisors
2. 8-10 months: Upper central incisors
3. 10-14 months: Lower and upper lateral incisors
4. 14-18 months: First molars
5. 16-22 months: Canine teeth
6. 25-33 months: Second molars

Do all babies follow this exact teething timeline? No, there can be significant variation in when teeth emerge. Some babies may not get their first tooth until after their first birthday, while others may start teething much earlier.

Signs and Symptoms of Teething

Recognizing the signs of teething can help parents better support their child through this sometimes challenging phase of development.

• Increased drooling
• Swollen or tender gums
• Irritability or fussiness
• Difficulty sleeping
• Loss of appetite
• Rubbing cheeks or pulling ears
• Chewing on objects

Are fever and diarrhea signs of teething? Contrary to popular belief, research has shown that teething does not typically cause fever or diarrhea. If your baby experiences these symptoms, it’s best to consult with a pediatrician as they may indicate an unrelated illness.

Managing Teething Discomfort in Babies

While teething can be uncomfortable for babies, there are several strategies parents can use to help soothe their child’s discomfort.

Safe Teething Remedies

• Gently massaging the gums with a clean finger
• Offering a cool, damp washcloth to chew on
• Providing safe teething toys
• Using teething rings (refrigerated, not frozen)
• Offering cold foods (for babies over 6 months)

Is it safe to use teething gels or tablets? The FDA advises against using over-the-counter teething gels or tablets due to potential side effects. Always consult with your pediatrician before using any medication for teething relief.

The Importance of Early Dental Care

Even before the first tooth appears, it’s crucial to establish good oral hygiene habits for your baby.

Caring for Baby’s Gums and First Teeth

• Clean gums daily with a soft, damp cloth
• Begin brushing as soon as the first tooth emerges
• Use a small, soft-bristled toothbrush
• Use only a rice-grain sized amount of fluoride toothpaste until age 3
• Schedule the first dental visit by the first birthday or within 6 months of the first tooth appearing

How often should you clean your baby’s gums before teeth appear? It’s recommended to gently wipe your baby’s gums at least twice a day, especially after feedings and before bedtime, to remove bacteria and prevent future dental issues.

Addressing Concerns About Early Tooth Development

While early teething is generally not a cause for alarm, it’s natural for parents to have concerns about their child’s dental development.

Common Concerns and Reassurances

• Early teething does not typically indicate advanced overall development
• It does not usually affect a baby’s ability to breastfeed or bottle-feed
• Early teeth are not more prone to decay, but proper care is essential
• The timing of tooth emergence does not predict when adult teeth will come in

Should parents worry if their baby’s teeth come in “out of order”? No, while there is a typical order for tooth eruption, it’s not uncommon for teeth to appear in a different sequence. As long as all teeth eventually emerge, there’s usually no cause for concern.

The Role of Nutrition in Dental Development

Proper nutrition plays a crucial role in the development of strong, healthy teeth, even before they emerge.

Key Nutrients for Dental Health

• Calcium
• Vitamin D
• Phosphorus
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin A

How can breastfeeding mothers support their baby’s dental development? Breastfeeding mothers should ensure they’re getting adequate nutrition, particularly calcium and vitamin D, to support their own health and their baby’s dental development. Consult with a healthcare provider about potential supplements if needed.

When to Seek Professional Advice

While variations in teething patterns are normal, there are situations where professional guidance may be necessary.

Signs to Consult a Pediatric Dentist

• No teeth by 18 months of age
• Signs of tooth decay or discoloration
• Misaligned teeth
• Persistent pain or discomfort
• Injuries to the mouth or teeth

What should parents do if they notice a bluish lump on their baby’s gums? A bluish lump on the gums, often called an eruption cyst, is usually harmless and will resolve on its own when the tooth breaks through. However, if you’re concerned, it’s always best to consult with a pediatric dentist for reassurance.

Preparing for the Teething Journey

Understanding that teething is a natural process that affects each child differently can help parents navigate this developmental stage with confidence.

Tips for a Smooth Teething Experience

• Be patient and understanding of your baby’s discomfort
• Establish a consistent oral care routine early
• Keep teething remedies on hand
• Monitor your baby’s overall health and development
• Celebrate each new tooth as a milestone

How can parents help older siblings understand and support a teething baby? Involve older siblings in the care process by teaching them about teething and allowing them to help in safe ways, such as singing soothing songs or helping to choose teething toys. This can foster a sense of responsibility and strengthen sibling bonds.

The Long-Term Impact of Early Dental Care

Establishing good oral hygiene habits from infancy can have lasting benefits for a child’s overall health and well-being.

Benefits of Early Dental Care

• Reduced risk of tooth decay and gum disease
• Proper jaw and facial development
• Positive associations with dental care
• Early detection and treatment of potential issues
• Improved overall health outcomes

Can early dental care habits influence a child’s adult teeth? Yes, caring for baby teeth sets the stage for a lifetime of good oral health. Healthy baby teeth help guide adult teeth into proper position and contribute to proper speech development and nutrition.

Debunking Common Teething Myths

There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding teething. It’s important for parents to have accurate information to make informed decisions about their child’s care.

Common Teething Myths Debunked

• Myth: Teething causes fever and diarrhea
• Myth: Amber necklaces can relieve teething pain
• Myth: Late teething indicates developmental delays
• Myth: Teething babies need hard biscuits to chew on
• Myth: It’s not necessary to brush baby teeth

Are teething necklaces safe for babies? The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly advises against using teething necklaces due to the risks of choking and strangulation. Safer alternatives, such as rubber teething rings, are recommended instead.

Cultural Perspectives on Teething

Teething practices and beliefs can vary widely across different cultures, reflecting diverse approaches to child-rearing and health.

Global Teething Traditions

• Use of herbal remedies in some cultures
• Traditional ceremonies to mark the first tooth
• Beliefs about the timing and order of tooth emergence
• Cultural preferences for specific teething toys or objects
• Varying approaches to pain management during teething

How can healthcare providers support families with diverse cultural beliefs about teething? Healthcare providers should approach teething discussions with cultural sensitivity, respecting traditional practices while providing evidence-based information to ensure the safety and well-being of the child.

The Future of Pediatric Dental Care

Advancements in dental technology and research continue to improve our understanding of early dental development and care.

Emerging Trends in Pediatric Dentistry

• Use of biocompatible materials in dental treatments
• Enhanced diagnostic tools for early detection of dental issues
• Personalized treatment plans based on genetic factors
• Integration of oral health into overall pediatric care
• Development of more effective and safer teething remedies

How might future advancements change the way we approach teething and early dental care? As our understanding of dental development expands, we may see more personalized approaches to managing teething discomfort and preventing early childhood dental issues, potentially leading to better long-term oral health outcomes.

Supporting Parents Through the Teething Process

Teething can be a challenging time for both babies and parents. Providing support and resources can help families navigate this developmental stage with confidence.

Resources for Parents

• Pediatric dental associations
• Parenting support groups
• Online forums and communities
• Educational materials from healthcare providers
• Books and articles on infant oral health

How can healthcare providers better support parents during the teething process? Healthcare providers can offer clear, evidence-based information about teething, provide guidance on safe pain relief methods, and offer reassurance about the normal variations in teething patterns. Regular check-ins and open communication can help address parental concerns promptly.

Conclusion: Embracing the Teething Journey

While early tooth development, such as teething at 2 months, can be surprising for parents, it’s important to remember that every child’s developmental journey is unique. By understanding the teething process, recognizing signs of discomfort, and implementing proper oral care habits early on, parents can support their child’s dental health from infancy through adulthood.

Whether a baby’s first tooth appears at 2 months or 12 months, the key is to approach teething with patience, knowledge, and a commitment to establishing good oral hygiene practices. With proper care and attention, parents can help ensure their child develops a healthy, beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime.

Remember, while this article provides general information about teething and early dental development, it’s always best to consult with a pediatric dentist or healthcare provider for personalized advice and care tailored to your child’s specific needs.

Help! My two-month-old baby has developed teeth

Dear Doctor: I am in distress because my baby, who recently made two months, has developed a tooth on the upper side. I see my friends’ children develop teeth after seven months, why is my child getting hers early?
— Jennifer

Dear Jennifer: The first teeth babies grow are called milk teeth. The time these teeth begin to erupt is variable, primarily due to genetic factors. It is true that baby teeth begin to develop before they are born but do not erupt until about six months of age when the first teeth (two bottom central teeth called incisors) begin to break through the gums. However, one in 2,000 babies may be born with a tooth and so your baby at two months does not pose any health dangers.
Eruption of milk teeth is similar in both sexes but permanent teeth tend to appear earlier in girls.

Teething 101
Fortunately, there are some signs to watch for as this developmental milestone approaches that can help make teething easier for your baby — and for you.
When do babies start teething? Most babies grow their first tooth around seven months old, although there’s a wide variation in timing of teething. For example, some babies grow their first tooth as early as two or three months whereas others don’t get one until after their first birthday. Teething symptoms, however, can precede the actual appearance of a tooth by as much as two or three months.

In what order do teeth appear? The most common first teeth are the two in the bottom centre, followed by the two in the top centre. Then, the pattern goes outward with lateral incisors, which are in the next spot over, followed by the first molars, or the molars closest to the opening of baby’s mouth. Then come the canines on either side of the lateral incisors and last are the second molars in the very back.
What not to worry about: Teething can cause bleeding under the gums, which may look like a bluish lump in baby’s mouth. It’s nothing to be concerned about and can be relieved with cold counterpressure using a cool wet washcloth.
whattoexpect.com

Stages of Teething in Babies and Children

There are 5 stages of teething in babies and children beginning with 20 primary (baby) teeth. Infants usually begin the process of teething around 6 months of age, although the precise timing can differ for each individual child. In most children, the bottom front two teeth (lower central incisors) erupt first, followed by the top front two teeth (upper central incisors). Babies may become particularly fussy or irritable while their new teeth ‘come in,’ as teething can be a very uncomfortable process. From the time teething begins until a child has developed their full set of 20 primary teeth, parents may feel as if they are consistently experiencing more difficulty than normal with their child. Standard signs and symptoms of teething consist of sore or tender gums, drooling, chewing on hard objects, and uncharacteristic grouchiness. Many parents believe teething can also cause fever and diarrhea, but research has disproven these suggestions. Teething does not cause constitutional or other prolonged bodily symptoms. Other than mood changes, all symptoms caused by teething are isolated to changes in the mouth and gums. 

5 Stages Of Teething in Kids

Stage 1: (0-6 months) Babies are born with a full set of twenty teeth beneath the gums
Stage 2: (6 months) The first teeth to erupt are the upper and lower icisors (front teeth)
Stage 3: (10-14 months) Primary Molars erupt
Stage 4: (16-22 months) Canine teeth (between incisors and molars on top and bottom) will erupt
Stage 5: (25-33 months) Large molars erupt

Teething occurs in 5 stages, usually lasts a little over 2 years, and can be a very difficult time for both babies and their parents to go through. Knowing what to anticipate during this tough time can aid parents in relieving the discomfort of their baby as well as effectively guide them into toddlerhood. The 5 stages of teething consist of:

State 1: (0-6 months) When a baby is born, he or she already has a full set of 20 baby teeth located in the jawbone under the gums. These primary teeth are also known as ‘milk teeth,’ because during this period of time babies typically consume a diet of milk only. During this stage, no teeth usually emerge.

Stage 2: (6-8 months) At this time, the first teeth begin to erupt. The incisors, which are the lower and upper front teeth, start coming in around 6 months of age, but symptoms or signs of discomfort may become apparent before the child is 6 months old. Before emerging, the jagged edges of the teeth may press up on the gum line. When this begins, the baby will consequently begin chewing on hands, toys, and any other hard objects. Applying pressure to the gums can relieve the pain and serve as a diversion for babies, so parents should definitely provide their child with ample and appropriate chew items during this time. 

Stage 3: (10-14 months) The primary molars start to emerge at this stage in the lower and upper jaws in the back of the mouth. A child’s symptoms during this stage will be similar to stage 2, but usually parents will observe a distinct increase in fussiness, drool, and the want to chew on hard objects. Babies may commonly experience a loss of appetite during this time as well as begin to lose sleep at night. During stage 3, it is common for a baby’s sleep schedule to become more irregular. It is unfortunately pretty characteristic for both the baby and parents to sleep at night during this stage of teething. If a baby’s discomfort seems to become too harsh or if he or she seems to be dealing with excessive pain, contact a pediatrician for recommended over-the-counter pain relievers.

Stage 4: (16-22 months) At this time, the teeth between the top and bottom molars and incisors, the canines, will emerge. The exact same recommendations as stage 2 and 3 apply for keeping a baby as comfortable as possible during this time. 

Stage 5: (25-33 months) This can be the most uncomfortable stage of teething for some toddlers. The large molars, which are the biggest baby teeth, erupt during this stage. During this time, parents may have a hard time soothing their child, trying their usual techniques to no avail. Parents are encouraged to try new soothing methods until something works. Many parents have found success with giving their toddler a hard vegetable to chew on, which is healthy as well. However, parents should make sure to keep a close eye on the toddler at all times to avoid the vegetable becoming a choking hazard.

How To Comfort A Teething Baby

• Some practical suggestions for alleviating a teething baby’s sore gums include: 
• Teething rings—Supply the baby with a teething ring made of hard plastic. The liquid filled rings can break while the baby chews.
• Gum massages—Applying pressure to the gums can relieve a good amount of the discomfort a baby experiences while teething. Try massaging the gums with a clean damp washcloth, clean finger, or clean dampened gauze pad. 
• Bottles filled with water—Try filling a baby bottle with water for your child to suck on when experiencing pain. Do not, however, fill the bottle with juice or milk for pain alleviation purposes. Prolonged contact with sugary liquids causes tooth decay. 
• Chilled washcloths—A chilled teething ring or washcloth may also alleviate teething pain. Allow the baby to chew on these chilled items, but do not freeze them. Objects that are too cold can injure the gums and teeth.  
• Hard/Solid foods—If the child is old enough to have solid food as part of his or her diet, hard foods that are safe to chew on may relieve teething discomfort. Whole solid vegetables like a peeled carrot or cucumber can be beneficial, but watch the baby closely to make sure these foods do not become choking hazards. 
• Bibs—Putting a clean dry bib or cloth under the baby’s chin can help keep the skin from getting irritated from the supplemental amount of drool that accumulates as a baby teethes. 
• OTC pain remedies—Over-the-counter pain relievers may also help keep a baby more comfortable during teething. Make sure to ask the pediatrician, however, before giving the child any medications.  

Teeth and Gum Care for Infants and Toddlers

Everyone knows dental care is important for children and adults, but what about baby teeth? Dentists tell us that teeth and gum care should begin even before the first baby tooth appears.

Why Healthy Baby Teeth Are Important

It’s important to keep baby teeth clean and healthy because:

• Baby teeth hold spaces open for the permanent teeth to come in. 

Baby teeth help to:

Form the shape of your child’s face.

• Make it easier for your child to talk more clearly.
• Make chewing and eating easier.
• Tooth decay can result when baby teeth are not cared for. Tooth decay causes:
• Pain and discomfort.
• Infections that can affect the child’s total health.
• Need for costly dental care.
• Damage to the underlying permanent teeth.
• Missing school or needing emergency care.
• Loss of the space needed for permanent teeth to come in.

How Many Teeth and When?

• The first teeth are already present inside your child’s jaws at birth.
• Usually by 6 months, the first tooth will appear in the mouth (Picture 1).
• Your child has 20 teeth by the time he or she is 2 1/2 to 3 years of age.
• The front teeth fall out between 6 and 7 years of age. The back teeth (those used for chewing) don’t fall out until the child is 10 or 12 years of age.
• To keep the teeth healthy, it’s very important to care for the baby’s gums and teeth even before they appear in the mouth.

How to Clean Your Child’s Mouth

Even before the teeth begin to come in, you should clean baby’s mouth at least once a day with a clean gauze pad or soft cloth. This should become a regular habit. To clean the child’s teeth and gums:

1. Sit on a sofa or chair with your child’s head in your lap (Picture 2). Or if someone is helping you, place the child’s head in your lap with his feet toward your helper. It is important your child is comfortable and you can see easily into his mouth.
2. Place a clean gauze pad or soft cloth over your finger. Dip the gauze in water so that it’s damp, but not soaking wet. Wipe your child’s teeth and gums gently.
3. When your child’s teeth start coming in, begin to use a small, soft toothbrush to brush his teeth. Be sure to brush all surfaces of the teeth, including the gums.
4. It is not necessary to use toothpaste, but if you do, use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a small pea).
5. Children should be able to brush their teeth totally unsupervised by age 11. Until then, parents should watch or help, based on their child’s abilities.

Things You Can Do to Prevent Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is caused by bacteria in the plaque (plak) that forms on teeth. When your child eats food or takes medicine that has sugar in it, the bacteria produce acids. These acids destroy the teeth. To prevent tooth decay:

• Clean the baby’s teeth with gauze or a soft cloth after each feeding. When the child is older, you may use a toothbrush.
• A young child is not able to brush every tooth surface in his mouth and does not know how important it is to brush the teeth well. This is why an adult should brush or clean the child’s teeth at least once a day until the child is about 7 or 8 years of age.
• Don’t give the child large amounts of sugary foods or liquids such as juice, Kool-Aid® and soda pop. Offer sweets only as dessert.
• When you start using toothpaste to clean the child’s teeth, be sure it contains fluoride (but use only a small amount – the size of a small pea).

How Fluoride Helps

• Fluoride is one of the best ways to prevent tooth decay. It makes teeth stronger so they can resist the acid and bacteria that cause tooth decay.
• Fluoride should be provided in either the drinking water or as a supplement in the form of drops or tablets, with or without vitamins. Ask your child’s dentist or doctor about providing your child with fluoride if you don’t have fluoride in your water.
• When your child is about 2 years of age, fluoride treatments should begin. Your dentist or dental hygienist applies a fluoride solution on the surface of the child’s teeth to give the teeth added protection.

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Severe tooth decay can occur when your baby is allowed to use either the bottle or the breast as a pacifier. When a baby goes to sleep with a sweetened liquid in his mouth (such as cow’s milk, formula, breast milk, soda pop or apple juice), the acid that is formed breaks down the tooth enamel very quickly. Instead of being swallowed and washed away by saliva, the liquid stays around the teeth and causes damage.

• To prevent “baby bottle tooth decay”:
• Avoid bedtime and nap time feedings.
• Avoid long or frequent feedings.
• Wipe your child’s teeth off after feeding.
• Don’t put your baby to bed with a bottle.
• Give baby a small amount of water at the end of the feeding.
• Use the bottle at feeding time only and not as a pacifier.
• Wean the infant from the bottle or breast to a cup by 12 months of age (Picture 3).

Teething

• As teeth appear in the mouth, your baby may have some discomfort. Your baby’s gums will be sore and he may get cranky or fussy.
• It often helps if you gently rub the baby’s gums with a clean finger. Sometimes it’s helpful to give baby a clean, cold object to chew on. Try giving a teething ring that you’ve kept in the refrigerator or a non-sweetened teething biscuit.
• Teething doesn’t make a child ill, just uncomfortable. Often it seems a cold or mild fever goes along with the drooling and chewing. If your child seems ill, call your doctor. Something other than teething may be causing the problem.

Thumb-sucking and Using a Pacifier

It’s natural for all babies to want and need to suck. Usually there’s no damage to the teeth from thumb-sucking or using a natural-shaped pacifier unless this continues beyond 5 years of age. After age 5 the habit could affect the permanent teeth as they come in.

Early Dental Visits

Your child should be seen by a dentist before he or she is 2 years old. After that, he or she should have regular “happy teeth” check-ups to make sure the teeth stay healthy. If you have any questions, be sure to ask your child’s dentist, dental hygienist, or doctor, or call the Dental Clinic at (614) 722-5650 or ___________________.

Dental: Teeth and Gum Care for Infants and Toddlers (PDF)

HH-IV-29 5/89, Rev. 7/10 Copyright 1989-2010, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Why Haven’t All My Child’s Baby Teeth Come In?

Your baby’s first tooth is a major milestone, and sometimes it can feel as though we’re checking compulsively for it for months before we get even a glimpse of pearly white! The age the teeth emerge will vary quite a bit from baby to baby, but waiting month to month in vain can often up the anxiety factor for parents. Children’s Dental Center has good news: your baby won’t be toothless forever!

There are several factors that can cause tooth delay, and although teeth will usually appear in good time without any help on your part, knowing the “how” and “why” behind the delay can help you relax until they do.

Normal tooth eruption

When infants are born, most of their teeth have already developed and lie within their gums. They typically begin to emerge by around six months of age. The two lower front teeth tend to be the first to appear, with the four upper front teeth following. Other teeth generally arrive two at a time – one on each side. By the age of three, almost all kids will have a complete set of 20 baby teeth, which are also called primary, milk, or deciduous teeth.

What is considered a delay in tooth emergence?

As we’ve mentioned above, the age at which babies experience their first tooth eruption will vary widely. There is, however, what we would consider a normal range for the appearance of baby teeth. You can usually expect to see the first tooth between 4-15 months, with your baby having, on average:

• four teeth by 11 months old
• eight teeth at 15 months
• twelve teeth at 19 months
• sixteen teeth at 23 months

Teeth that don’t follow this normal tooth eruption pattern aren’t necessarily a concern, but having no teeth at all may signify a dental issue that needs further examination. If your baby has no teeth by 18 months or so, we recommend a visit to a dentist. Here at Children’s Dental Center, our doctors are all pediatric dental specialists, making them uniquely qualified to treat infants and young children.

Causes of delayed tooth eruption

There are several reasons a child’s teeth may emerge outside of the normal schedule, such as

• premature birth and low birth weight
• genetic abnormalities such as regional odontodysplasia and amelogenesis imperfecta
• vitamin D-resistant rickets
• nutritional deficiency
• cerebral palsy
• certain congenital syndromes
• cysts or tumors in the gums
• anemia

In some cases, late tooth eruption could just be a family trait, so if your mom has a good memory or you have access to your baby books, it might be worth seeing when you or your siblings cut your first tooth to compare!

A note on absent teeth

There is a congenital syndrome called adontia, the absence of any teeth at all, which occurs rarely and will normally affect the permanent teeth rather than the baby ones. Hypodontia is a different dental issue, where between one and six teeth are missing, as well as oligodontia, the absence of six or more teeth, and both are more common than adontia and often genetic.

The importance of baby teeth

A child’s primary teeth are important on multiple levels, from facial appearance to eating and speaking. They can affect things such as:

Speech development: Take the time to talk to a child with two missing front teeth sometime. Notice anything? This is an easy example of how greatly the presence of teeth contributes to a child’s ability to speak clearly. This holds true for properly aligned teeth as well. Even for babies, teeth that are healthy, well spaced, and reasonably aligned can contribute greatly to their ability to form words and speak clearly.

Proper chewing and eating: Proper digestion begins with the mouth, and a baby’s teeth are of huge importance when it comes to overall oral health and wellness. The process of chewing helps to break food down into digestible sizes. A child eating a diet rich in variation and texture stimulates and exercises the gums, and also provides a cleansing action for the teeth.

Development of muscles and jaw bones: Chewing, along with sucking, provides your baby with the opportunity to exercise their facial, tongue, and jaw muscles. Without well-developed jaw muscles, there is a possibility the jawbones won’t form properly. Chewing a wide variety of texture in food is a great opportunity for you little one to develop strong facial muscles and jaws!

Dental care for delayed teeth with Children’s Dental Center

If your baby has an endlessly gummy smile, you can enjoy it for quite a while before questioning a potential delay in tooth eruption. However, for kids who are tooth-free outside of the normal development schedule, setting up a dental visit with a trusted provider like Children’s Dental Center is recommended. A dental evaluation will be able to determine the reason for any delays in tooth emergence, giving your baby a headstart on recognizing and treating any potential problems.

With an office set up specifically for even the youngest patient, Children’s Dental Center is proud to provide comprehensive treatment to children in Midtown Memphis, Germantown, Arlington, and the surrounding areas. If you’re in the Mid-South and worried about the possibility of your baby’s teeth being delayed, or if you just have questions and concerns about their oral health we can help you with, get in touch with us today! Remember, however early or late they erupt, caring for your child’s teeth as soon as they appear is the best gift you can give them for long-lasting oral health.

Baby Tooth Eruption Stages | Fox Kids Dentistry

It takes a baby a few years to go from that adorable gummy smile to a mouth full of teeth. While the first tooth is a milestone and so cute to see, as a parent, you likely want to know when can you expect it to arrive and the others that follow.

Use the links below to jump to sections in this blog post.

1. When Do Babies Start Teething?
2. Order of Eruption
3. Unique Situations and Potential Impacts on Tooth Development
5. How Can I Tell If Something Is Wrong With My Baby’s Teeth?
6. When to Contact Our Portland Pediatric Dentist?

When Do Babies Start Teething?

Baby teeth, also referred to as milk teeth, deciduous teeth or primary teeth, are temporary placeholders for your baby’s permanent set of teeth to come in. They also play a significant role in your child’s development.

Baby teeth eruption is a natural part of your baby’s normal development, where your baby’s teeth enter their mouth and become noticeable. By the time your baby turns three years old, they should have 20 teeth in their mouth. Even so, most of their baby (primary) teeth will appear during their first two years of life. To make room for their permanent teeth, your child will start losing their baby teeth around the age of six.

Usually, babies are born with tooth “buds” underneath their gums, embedded in the bone below. These baby tooth buds are areas where their 20 teeth will gradually erupt and develop. But there are some instances where the process of tooth eruption doesn’t follow the text-book pattern of normal eruption. There is a possibility your baby’s teeth won’t erupt in the expected order, or perhaps there’s a substantial delay.

Each baby is different in the teeth development process, though, so don’t be alarmed if your child’s tooth eruption follows a slightly different pattern. Some may begin teething as early as four to seven months. Others may be around nine months before they get their first teeth, or even not until they’re a year old. In some cases, a baby might even be born with a couple of teeth already! Genetics can play a huge role. If you or your partner developed your primary teeth early, there’s a good chance your child will, too.

Once you understand what to look for, you can contact our Fox Kids Dentistry & Orthodontics pediatric dentist if you have any concerns.

Order of Eruption and What Each Set of Teeth Is Designed to Help Babies Do

Below is the typical baby teeth order of appearance, when you can expect to see the primary teeth come in, and what their job is:

Central Incisor

Function: The central incisors are thin and flat. Their function is to slice through the food you eat, and they support the appearance and shape of your lips. They also help you pronounce certain sounds such as “th” and “t.” They help guide the jaw into its proper position when you close your mouth as well. You have both upper and lower central incisors.

Upper

When the tooth comes in: eight to 12 months old

When the tooth falls out: six to seven years old

Lower

When the tooth comes in: six to 10 months old

When the tooth falls out: six to seven years old

Lateral Incisor

Function: These are the two teeth that sit next to the left and right sides of your central incisors. They’re also referred to as being away from the center of your jaw or being in the distal position. The primary function of the incisors is cutting and tearing into food, although the aesthetic appearance of these teeth are scrutinized immensely since they’re visible while eating, smiling and talking. You have both upper and lower lateral incisors, too.

Upper

When the tooth comes in: nine to 13 months old

When the tooth falls out: seven to eight years old

Lower

When the tooth comes in: 10 to 16 months old

When the tooth falls out: seven to eight years old

Canine (Cuspid)

Function: The canines are located at the “corners” of your dental arches. They have a pointed, sharp biting surface, so they can perform their function of gripping and tearing food.

Upper

When the tooth comes in: 16 to 22 months old

When the tooth falls out: 10 to 12 years old

Lower

When the tooth comes in: 17 to 23 months old

When the tooth falls out: nine to 12 years old

Molars

Function: Your molars are your largest teeth in your mouth. Their biting surfaces are flat, and their function is to crush, chew and grind food. You have eight molars.

First Molar

Upper

When the tooth comes in: 13 to 19 months old

When the tooth falls out: nine to 11 years old

Lower

When the tooth comes in: 14 to 18 months old

When the tooth falls out: nine to 11 years old

Second Molar

Upper

When the tooth comes in: 25 to 33 months old

When the tooth falls out: 10 to 12 years old

Lower

When the tooth comes in: 23 to 31 months old

When the tooth falls out: 10 to 12 years old

Your child’s permanent teeth should start coming around the age of six years old.

In some kids, the first to emerge are the first permanent molars, and in others, it’s the incisors. Most of the 28 permanent teeth should be in and in place by the age of 13. By the age of 17 and 21 years old, one to four third molars, or wisdom teeth may emerge, bringing the total permanent teeth number to 32.

Based on this information, here are some answers to other common questions parents will ask us about their child’s teeth:

1. Which Baby Teeth Come First?

Typically, the first baby teeth start breaking through the gums around the age of six months old. The two bottom central incisors are usually the first two teeth to come in.

2. Are My Baby’s Teeth Late?

New parents eagerly wait for their baby’s first tiny white buds to start showing, which is a signal their first baby teeth are about to come in. Therefore, when they don’t show up, parents begin to worry something is wrong. For most babies with no teeth, this delay isn’t usually something to be concerned about. However, there could be an underlying cause too in some babies.

So, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), if your child hasn’t popped their first tooth by the time they reach 18 months old, you should take them to the pediatric dentist. The normal range for the first tooth to appear is between four to 15 months old. Afterward, the other teeth begin erupting in a regular pattern.

3. When Do Babies Start Teething?

Most babies have their first tooth or teeth erupt by the time they’re four to six months old. However, some children’s teeth show up earlier or later.

4. When Can My Baby Eat Solid Food?

Most babies are ready to start eating solid foods along with their formula-feeding or breastfeeding by the ages of four to six months old.

Unique Situations and Potential Impacts on Tooth Development

By the time your child turns three years old, they should have a complete set of 20 baby teeth, giving them a brilliant grin. Going from toothless to a full grin takes time. And, many parents have a lot of questions when it comes to their child’s baby teeth.

However, there are some unique situations that can affect the exact timing of when your baby’s teeth begin to erupt as well as when and how the permanent teeth come in. Here’s a look at some of those situations:

1. What If My Baby Is Born Early?

On average, a baby usually gets their first tooth at around six months, but all babies are different. Children that are born prematurely should be calculated at the corrected age. For instance, if your child was born a month premature, their teeth may begin erupting at seven months instead of six.

Teething issues occur the most in premature babies, along with those that don’t have sufficient healthcare access. You should contact one of our pediatric dentists if you notice your baby hasn’t had any tooth eruptions by the time they’re 18 months old. However, it’s recommended that babies start seeing a pediatric dentist by their first birthday.

While there should not be too many significant problems with a later order of appearance, you should consult our pediatric dentist if your baby hasn’t had any teeth erupt by their first birthday. You shouldn’t be too concerned unless you have a family history of teeth missing or your child has another underlying health condition.

2. What Happens When Teeth Come in out of Order?

Because all babies have different timetables, don’t be too concerned if your baby’s teeth erupt at a different time than most babies. Some teeth can take a little longer to erupt, while other times, the teeth will erupt earlier than normal ― even as early as four months old.

Your baby’s teeth may also erupt in a different pattern than what’s considered the normal pattern. For instance, your child’s front upper teeth may erupt first. When this occurs, there’s no need to worry. It doesn’t matter the exact order the teeth come in as long as your child has a gleaming set of 20 teeth by about their third birthday.

Now, there can be potential complications when teeth erupt out of order. All potential complications should be addressed right away to avoid long-term effects. For instance, if permanent teeth come in at an abnormal position, it can affect the spacing of all the permanent teeth.

3. What Happens If I See Crowding in My Baby’s Teeth?

Crowding is when there’s a lack of space for the teeth to normally fit into the jaw. The teeth might be displaced or rotated. Crowding can be due to late or early loss of baby teeth, a genetic imbalance between tooth size and jaw, or improper tooth eruption. Crowded baby teeth will often result in crowded permanent teeth, so spacing or crowding of your child’s teeth may be a good predictor as to what things will look like as they grow older.

You should have crowding corrected since it can:

• Increase the risk of baby tooth decay
• Make it harder to clean the teeth surfaces properly
• Increase the risk of gum disease

4. What Happens If I See a Blockage of My Baby’s Teeth?

Sometimes, if baby teeth erupt out of order, it can later block some permanent teeth from coming in because the baby teeth haven’t fallen out yet. Often the permanent tooth will come in anyway. This poses a higher risk of cavities developing since the teeth are then harder to clean. It’s also possible for the surrounding baby teeth to come out prematurely in this circumstance, which can affect the growth and development of the jaw and other facial bones.

5. What Happens If My Baby Has Impacted Teeth?

Impacted baby teeth are very rare. Impactions are more likely to occur with permanent teeth. When there’s a lack of space, some of the permanent teeth might not come through because they’re totally blocked. When there’s an occurrence of impacted teeth, damage can occur to surrounding bone and gum tissues as well as to the teeth’s roots.

If you have any concerns about any complications, consult with your child’s pediatric dentist.

6. What Happens If My Child Has Tooth Decay?

Another problem is tooth decay, and primary teeth are, unfortunately, at a higher risk for it. When there’s decay, it can lead to other complications like below and warrant an examination and potential treatment by our pediatric dentist:

• Early tooth loss: When there’s early baby tooth loss, whether it’s one tooth or a couple, it can leave space that isn’t ready to be filled yet. It’s essential to consult with a pediatric dentist to see if treatment is needed to prevent future orthodontic challenges later on in your child’s life.
• Infections: Infected teeth due to tooth decay can cause poor eating habits, crooked teeth, speech problems and damaged adult teeth.
• Cellulitis: This is inflammation that spread to the mouth’s surrounding soft tissues. It’s a dental emergency because if left untreated, can lead to significant infection. Your child will likely experience redness, pain and substantial swelling. Our dentist will need to prescribe antibiotics and if this condition affects your child’s teeth, and extraction may be needed.
• Gingivitis (gum disease): Gum disease typically causes the gum tissue to turn red, swell and bleed easily. Gum disease is both treatable and preventable with regular good oral hygiene and professional dental care.
• Yellow or brown spots on teeth: White spots seen on baby teeth are actually early tooth decay signs. They are caused by enamel mineral loss. If they are left untreated, they can turn brown or yellow and require more extensive dental treatment.
• Cavities: Tooth decay in toddlers can cause early childhood caries.
• Poor self-esteem: Having a mouth full of cavities or misaligned teeth can lead to poor self-esteem. This is also why you shouldn’t hesitate to bring your child to the dentist.

How Can I Tell If Something Is Wrong With My Baby’s Teeth?

While variations are completely normal, preventing early space loss and disease is important. Because the primary teeth are smaller than adult teeth (permanent teeth), they should leave plenty of space between them, allowing for room for future teeth. If you’re worried about your child’s teeth growing in too close together, have a pediatric dentist take a look.

When to Contact Our Portland Pediatric Dentist

You should schedule your child’s first dental appointment once their first tooth erupts and subsequently if other problems show up. A pediatric dentist is best since they have additional years of training, making them experts on baby teeth, and they have a lots of experience dealing with pediatric dental problems.

Again, there’s no need to panic if your baby’s teeth grow in out of order. There may be several reasons for the delay, but generally, most, if not all, baby teeth will be in place in due time. Unless you notice complications, please be patient.

Also, even though your baby’s milk teeth will be replaced by permanent teeth eventually, this doesn’t mean you should ignore your child’s good dental hygiene with their baby teeth. Healthy development and proper oral hygiene will set your baby up for proper, oral health in the future. Contact Fox Kids in Portland today at 503-223-5039 to set up your baby’s first appointment or to address any concerns you have. We can’t wait to meet you and your little one!

Summary

Article Name

Baby Teeth – Order of Appearance

Description

It takes a baby a few years to go from that adorable gummy smile to a mouth full of teeth. While the first tooth is a milestone and so cute to see, as a parent, you likely want to know when you can expect it to arrive, and the others that follow.

Author

Dr. Dana Fox

Publisher Name

Fox Kids Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics

Publisher Logo

Your guide to teething month by month

Here we look at the different stages of teething, from when to expect the first symptoms, to when they might be sporting a full set of pearly whites.

This is one area of your baby’s life that you’re allowed to wish away and hurry to get past: teething. After all, who likes seeing their baby in pain? And teething does cause little ones a lot of discomfort (Eisenstadt et al, 2017).

“The first thing to say is teething is a completely normal and, unfortunately, a necessary stage in your baby’s development.”

It usually starts to happen when they’re six to nine months old. Your baby will likely be more unsettled than usual, with excess drool and wanting to chew everything in sight (Harding, 2016). See our article on the signs of teething.

Teething: when does it happen?

Your baby’s milk teeth first teeth start to develop when they’re in the womb (Community Practitioner, 2011). We know, mind-blowing. But the teeth usually pop through the gums during your baby’s first year (Community Practitioner, 2011; American Dental Association, 2018).

That said, some babies are born with their first teeth and others don’t see any come through until after 12 months. As with all things baby, there are no hard and fast rules. By the time your baby’s two and a half to three years old though, they will more than likely have a full set of teeth (Family Lives, 2018).

How many teeth should my baby have and when?

A rough rule of thumb is that the age of your baby in months minus six gives the average number of teeth, up to the age of 2 years (Ashley, 2001). For example a baby hitting their first birthday will have around 12 (months) minus six – so six teeth.

So what exactly is going on in there?

The gums swell and are tender to touch just before a tooth breaks through (Ashley, 2001) and so anything in their mouths could cause additional pain.

You might see their gum start to split slightly to make way for the emerging tooth (Harding, 2016; NHS, 2016). This is actually the cells in the gum over a tooth dying off, creating a path for the tooth to emerge through (Community Practitioner, 2011).

And with the molars (and occasionally the incisors) you can see a blistering on the gum or a smooth bluish swelling ahead of the tooth emerging (Ashley, 2001).

Mind the gap

When the teeth grow, special chemicals are released by the body. This causes part of the gums to separate and allow teeth to grow through. How clever is that? (Harding, 2016; NHS, 2016).

What’s the order that baby teeth appear in?

Here’s a quick, handy chart that tells you roughly when to expect each tooth, though do remember that every child is different (NHS, 2016; NHS Devon, 2018). Generally, you’ll find their teeth erupt in pairs, usually starting with their two bottom teeth – first incisors (Lyttle et al, 2015).

Don’t be alarmed, teething isn’t constant from five to 33 months. In fact, each tooth or pair of teeth should only cause your little one pain for just over a week. In other words, for five days ahead of an appearance – ‘eruption day’ – and three days afterwards (Macknin et al, 2000).

So what can I do to help them through these bouts of teething?

Teething may make them super-grumpy, which is tough on you too. Thankfully, there are some things that can ease their discomfort, such as teething toys, certain foods and even cuddles. You can read more about teething in our range of articles.

“And rest assured that like with every stage, this one will pass. Soon you’ll be on to the daily teeth cleaning battles…”

See our guide to brushing your baby’s teeth here.

Further information

Our support line offers practical and emotional support with feeding your baby and general enquiries for parents, members and volunteers: 0300 330 0700.

You might find attending one of NCT’s Early Days groups helpful as they give you the opportunity to explore different approaches to important parenting issues with a qualified group leader and other new parents in your area.

Make friends with other parents-to-be and new parents in your local area for support and friendship by seeing what NCT activities are happening nearby.

NHS has produced a guide to looking after your baby’s teeth.

NCT has partnered with the British Red Cross to offer courses in baby first aid.

Baby teething and gums. – HSE.ie

Teeth don’t usually appear until your baby is 6 months or later. They may show signs of teething from about 13 weeks.

Your child should have most of their 20 baby teeth by the time they are 2 and a half years old.

Signs your baby is teething

If your baby is teething they might:

• have red, flushed cheeks
• dribble – you should wipe this away from the skin folds on their neck because this can cause soreness
• chew on their fists or on their toys more than usual
• have sore and tender gums and cry more
• have a nappy rash

Contact your public health nurse or GP if your child has a raised temperature, diarrhoea or generally seems unwell. This is not caused by teething

Helping your teething baby

It’s upsetting to see your baby in discomfort from teething. Comforting and playing with them will help distract them.

Here are some other ways you can help:

• try giving your baby something to chew on such as a cool teething ring
• massage your child’s sore gums with a sugar-free teething gel
• use mild sugar-free pain relief if your child wakes at night and is irritable
• give cold water to drink – this helps to keep babies hydrated and may also soothe their gums
• give healthy foods to chew on, such as pieces of carrot or apple, or breadsticks – only do this if they’re 6 months or older and
• stay close to your baby when they are eating in case they choke

Teething rings

Chewing on a teething ring can help soothe a baby’s gums as well as distract them from the pain.

Use teething rings that are big enough so your child will not choke on them. Keep a spare clean teething ring in the fridge.

Never tie a teething ring around a baby’s neck – this could strangle them.

Always check the product instructions on how long to cool the ring for. Never put the ring in the freezer as the temperature could damage your baby’s gums.

You can also use a cold wet facecloth for a baby to chew on.

Teething gels and pain relief

Sugar-free teething gels are available over the counter from the pharmacy – they contain a mild local anaesthetic which helps numb any pain. These are for babies older than 4 months.

If your baby is still in discomfort after using teething gels, consider giving them sugar-free paracetamol or ibuprofen medication for babies. Don’t use Ibuprofen medication if your baby is under the age of 3 months.

Contact your GP or pharmacist for information on the safe use of gels and pain relief.

Always follow the instructions on the leaflet and the packaging. Make sure you use the right amount and only as recommended. If you are unsure, ask your GP or pharmacist.

Never use products on your baby that are meant for adults or for older children. These products are not suitable for relieving the symptoms of teething in babies.

Amber teething jewellery

The HSE recommends you never use amber teething jewellery for your baby. These can be necklaces, anklets, or bracelets.

Amber teething jewellery can choke your baby.

Never put jewellery, cords or string around your baby’s neck

Homeopathic teething products

There are some unlicensed homeopathic products sold online. These are not safe to use in young infants and babies.

Research into these products shows that they may cause serious side effects. These include difficulty breathing, seizures, agitation, excessive sleepiness, constipation and difficulty urinating.

This warning does not apply to Nelson’s homeopathic teething products sold in Ireland with the brand name of ‘Teetha’.

Nappy rash and teething

Babies who are teething may get nappy rash and sore bottoms. Check your baby’s bottom and change their nappies often.

Using a barrier nappy cream may help. Leaving the baby’s nappy off for a period of time, although messy, is soothing for babies.

Related topic

Nappy rash

Teething and crying

Anything that causes your baby to cry more is difficult for you too. If you’re tired and stressed, try asking for help from friends or family.

Related topic

Why is my baby crying

When to get medical advice

Contact your GP urgently if your baby has any of the following:

• A temperature of more than 38 degrees.
• They are lethargic and drowsy.

These symptoms are not caused by teething.

Teething may cause a mild rash on a baby’s chin or neck, but it does not cause a widespread rash.

Babies who are not drinking and not having plenty of wet nappies per day might be dehydrated.

Contact your GP for advice if you’re worried about any symptoms in your baby

You can get more advice on caring for your baby’s teeth from your dentist or public health nurse.

Related topic

High temperature in children (when to get medical advice)

page last reviewed: 16/09/2018
next review due: 16/09/2021

90,000 Molars in children – eruption and growth symptoms

Of course, molars in children deserve a separate discussion. Firstly, because parents often confuse which of the teeth are milk and which are permanent, and secondly, because their eruption causes extremely unpleasant and even painful sensations and is often accompanied by an increase in temperature.

When molars grow

Many parents believe that molars are permanent teeth, that is, those that replace milk teeth.But actually it is not. So what are the child’s teeth? In fact, molars are classified as permanent and deciduous. In this case, the order of eruption of molars in children is as follows. At six months, babies begin to notice their first molars. There are four of them, and they are located on the lower and upper parts of the jaw apparatus. In one and a half years, central molars appear, in two and a half – lateral ones. From 5 to 10 years old, milk teeth are replaced by permanent ones. Until about 25 years of age, the most difficult tooth – “wisdom” – is cut through.

What symptoms accompany the growth of teeth

Not all parents know how molars grow in children, which is why they start to get very worried when they notice some unpleasant symptoms. Let’s see what phenomena accompany the growth of teeth.

Elevated temperature. During the period of tooth growth, children may have a temperature of 37–37.5 ° C. In some cases, it rises to 38 ° C. Why is this happening? The fact is that when swelling in the gums, the blood flow increases, and in order to compensate for the swelling, the body produces biologically active substances, which affects the state of immunity.As a result, the temperature rises.

General malaise. Very often, when teething, children seem lethargic and tired. This is due to the fact that it is a great stress for the body. As a result, the child may sleep poorly, babies often become irritable, spit out a pacifier, begin to suck their thumb and are constantly naughty.

Increased salivation. This is especially true in young children (aged 5-7 months). At this time, they do not yet independently regulate the amount of saliva in the mouth.A large amount of saliva indicates irritation of the sensory nerves of the gums, which is completely normal when teeth appear. Over time, with the development of the reflex, the amount of saliva decreases.

Digestive upset. Teething is often accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, and regurgitation. The reason for this is an increase in the amount of fluid that the baby drinks during the day.

How to help

In order to speed up the teething process, small children can be given special toys.They are usually in the form of rings. Instead of these items, you can use a regular crust of bread or peeled fresh carrots. Also during this period, the child is recommended to give cool drinks, it is better if it is just water. You can distract toddlers and older children through play, conversation, and fun music. Do not forget that during this period the child needs double affection, the special care of the parents. For severe pain, doctors prescribe age-appropriate analgesics. A clean, soft cloth soaked in cold water can be applied to the gums.This is especially helpful at bedtime, as it can help relieve pain and allow the baby to fall asleep.

Milk teeth

The appearance of the baby’s first tooth is a great joy for parents. And at the same time, the beginning of new worries. Thoughtful mothers and fathers, and there are more and more of them now, have many questions in the field of such early pediatric dentistry. What to do if baby teeth are crumbling or temporary teeth fall out? What teeth are changing? But the essence of all these questions boils down to one thing: how to achieve the health and beauty of the teeth of your beloved child? Everything in order.

Why are the first teeth called milk teeth?

There are several opinions on this score. Doctors attribute the authorship of the term to Hippocrates, who believed that these teeth were formed from mother’s milk. Philologist N.N. Vashkevich argues that “the term is a tracing paper from the Latin lactose“ milk ”. But the tracing paper is false, it is a misunderstood Arab livakt – “for a while”, “temporary” “.

One way or another, but the first teeth really actively “feed” on breast milk, since it is from it that the child assimilates the main building material of teeth and bones – calcium.And although milk teeth erupt, as a rule, at 6-7 months, their formation in the baby’s jaws occurs long before that.

It is worth noting that for the health and strength of the first teeth, it is mother’s milk (not cow’s milk) that is necessary, since the nutrients from it are absorbed by the baby’s body to the maximum. Therefore, the universal recipe “breastfeed” will help in this matter as well.

When do baby teeth appear?

The rudiments of milk teeth appear in the embryo at about 5-7 weeks of gestation.By the time the child is born, crowns of 10 temporary and 8 permanent teeth have already been formed in his jaws. The timing of the eruption of milk teeth is rather arbitrary. The average formula is as follows: the child’s age in months minus 6. That is, the first 2 teeth (usually the lower middle incisors) appear at 6-7 months, the next 2 (upper middle incisors) – at 8-9 months. Next, the upper lateral incisors usually come out, then the lower lateral incisors, then the anterior molars, canines, and posterior molars. Thus, by the age of 2-2.5 years, all 20 milk teeth should erupt in a child.These are ideal timing and perfect sequence, and deviations from them are quite common. The teeth can “climb” as early as 4 months, and can be delayed up to 8-9 months. In rare cases, a baby is born with teeth that have already erupted.

If your baby “does not meet the deadline”, do not be alarmed. This does not mean that the child is lagging behind in development. You should also not be proud of the early appearance of teeth – it does not indicate the superpowers of the child. Early or late appearance of teeth can be hereditary.In case of a strong deviation from the schedule – the appearance of teeth before 4 months or their absence after 9 months – just show the baby to the pediatric dentist. In general, the first examination by a pediatric dental specialist should be scheduled at least for the time when the child turns one year old. The doctor will see how the teething process is going, talk with you about the hygiene of the baby’s oral cavity. The kid will get acquainted with the environment of the office, with the doctor, will receive the first positive experience of visiting the dentist, because nothing unpleasant awaits him on this visit, and funny pictures on the walls of the clinic, toys, a chair in which you can ride with your mother – all this will probably be done on he’s a good impression.In the future, you should show your child to a pediatric dentist at least twice a year.

The baby is teething – how can you help him?

The child’s profuse salivation will tell you that the first tooth is on its way. 1-2 months before the eruption of the first tooth, the baby’s saliva begins to flow so actively that it is already difficult to do without aprons and bibs.

All older relatives will probably tell you about the unpleasant side effects of teething. However, there are many misconceptions here.

The very first teeth, as a rule, come out painlessly. Most often it happens like this: while feeding the child from a spoon, the mother hears the sound of metal on the edge of the tooth – that is, she discovers an already accomplished event, without even noticing something unusual in the child’s behavior.

The appearance of canines and molars may be more difficult. The kid can be capricious, refuse to eat, sleep poorly, pull everything into his mouth. You should take care of sore gums – regularly treat them with special gels, invite your child to chew on a cooling ring (cold relieves pain well).

However, do not believe that an increase in temperature is associated with teething. Fever and catarrhal phenomena are caused by an infection that has been “caught” by the child’s body weakened by malnutrition and lack of sleep. That is why, during the period of teething of difficult teeth, it is better to keep the baby from communicating with strangers. Digestive disorders, an upset stomach of a child at the time of teething is associated with his desire to chew and suck everything he can reach, just to relieve discomfort in the gums.So pathogenic microbes get into his mouth. Try to keep the child surrounded by clean objects, wash his hands and toys more often. Regularly let your baby chew small pieces of solid food – dried bread, a donut, a slice of apple, etc. This will help the eruption of those teeth that are already “on the way”, will improve the blood supply, and hence the nutrition of the gums, develop the chewing reflex, and help the formation of the speech apparatus.

When should you start brushing your child’s teeth?

Now children’s dentists are inclined to believe that systematic cleaning of the child’s oral cavity should be started … from the first days of his life.After feeding, you need to take a clean gauze or bandage, wrap it around your finger, moisten it with boiled water and run it over the gums of the newborn. This is how you can avoid such major troubles as, for example, candidiasis (thrush) of the oral cavity.

Cleaning the first teeth can be done with a cotton swab or fingertip. You should start using toothpaste and a brush from 12-14 months. Almost all children’s brushes are now made from soft artificial bristles, but still be careful, check the brush you like: what age it is designed for, whether it is soft enough.Give preference to products from well-known manufacturers. Toothpaste also differs in composition and taste depending on the age of the children to whom it is intended. The kid should be told to spit out the toothpaste, even though it is sweet. However, keep in mind for yourself: nothing bad will happen if a child first swallows a certain amount of paste: manufacturers know about this tendency of babies and make baby pastes safe for the body.

Of course, it is necessary to involve the child as much as possible in the process of dental care: to show how to use a brush correctly, to brush your teeth in the presence of the child, thereby demonstrating how important this procedure is.You can involve your baby in the process of choosing a paste and a brush, especially since the brush needs to be changed every 3 months. A little older child can be asked to choose brushes for the whole family. It is necessary to develop the child’s skill of regularly brushing teeth 2 times a day. More attention should be paid to brushing your teeth at night. And yet, letting go of the situation and leaving the child to himself in the matter of oral hygiene is possible only when the child turns 10 years old.

Diseases of milk teeth

The most common troubles are caries (including bottle caries), pulpitis, periodontitis.

You should be alerted to any changes in the color of the enamel, spots, dots (both dark and white) on the child’s teeth, redness or swelling of the gums. But the irregularities of the dentition at first can not be scared: when chewing solid food, milk teeth will move a little and gradually take the right place.

The reasons for the appearance of diseases of temporary teeth are not very different from the causes of problems with permanent teeth. It is:

• insufficient care for them (lack of proper hygiene),
• eating disorders,
• impairment of immunity due to other diseases and taking certain medications.

It is a mistake to think that milk teeth can be not carefully monitored on the grounds that they will fall out anyway. A sick tooth in the mouth is a breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria, which not only destroy other teeth, but also negatively affect digestion, lororgan. A prematurely lost milk tooth is also a problem, since it does not allow the baby to fully chew food, to articulate sounds with high quality. In addition, adjacent teeth try to take the vacant space – they move.And when a permanent tooth begins to grow here, it simply will not have enough space in the dentition and will have to grow sideways. That is why it is imperative to keep an eye on milk teeth, it is imperative to treat them on time!

Some of the pathogenic bacteria we ourselves, out of ignorance, bring into the baby’s mouth. Suffice it to recall the grandmother’s method of disinfecting a fallen nipple: lick it – and in the baby’s mouth. How many times have we done this? Did you feed the child with your own spoon? Did you take turns biting an apple or a bun with him? Imagine for a moment the condition of your teeth and only the tender teeth of a child that have appeared, not fully formed.What kind of danger did you put them in?

Particularly harmful is foreign microflora to a baby under 2 years old, while temporary teeth ripen in his mouth and their enamel is very vulnerable.

Food debris also contributes to the rapid growth of bacteria in the oral cavity. A by-product of their activity is acid, it is it that eats away the enamel of the milk tooth, leaving its delicate base – dentin – without protection. Then the matter is small: microorganisms invade dentin and destroy it. This is how caries proceeds. Outwardly, a sore tooth may look normal for a long time: a small black dot (the site of the lesion) is not too noticeable.But inside, it can already be severely destroyed, since caries of milk teeth, due to the softness of their tissues, develops much faster than permanent ones.

There is also the so-called “bottle caries” – a brownish plaque on the front teeth. It is very durable and does not lend itself to brushing. Such teeth decay quickly. This caries is called “bottle-necked” because it is a consequence of feeding a baby from a bottle with sugary drinks and juices at night and during the night. Carbohydrates are known to be the best food for bacteria.Getting such a wonderful nourishment, pathogenic bacteria multiply rapidly and take over the entire territory available to them. It will be very difficult to get them to surrender their positions. The development of “bottle caries” is also facilitated by the fact that at night the natural protector and cleaner of teeth – saliva – is almost not produced. While you are sleeping peacefully, the fragile little teeth of your crumbs are subjected to a powerful attack and are not protected by anything! Should you buy yourself a vacation at such a price?

Dangerous complications of caries are pulpitis and periodontitis.

Pulpitis is an inflammation of the pulp (the core of the tooth filled with blood vessels and nerve fibers). In babies, the pulp is practically insensitive, so they may not feel the usual sign of pulpitis – sharp pain. As a result, pulpitis of milk teeth may not even be noticed by an attentive parent, and the role of preventive examinations at the dentist is irreplaceable here.

If bacteria have passed through the root of a milk tooth and left in the gum tissue, their inflammation begins – periodontitis.Severe pain and temperature are already guaranteed here. The gums become red and swollen. Periodontitis is a serious illness; in no case should a child be brought to it.

With timely access to the dentist, all these troubles can be avoided. Caries is very easy to treat. Here, however, the first place comes the question of exactly where to apply. It turns out that the approach to the treatment of primary teeth in different clinics is very different.

Traditionally, decay of deciduous teeth is treated in a hurry: a small child usually does not really want to endure while the doctor digs in his mouth, so the doctor tries to somehow clean out the damaged area and fill it with fast-hardening material.As a result, the affected teeth remain untreated and may soon become inflamed or completely destroyed. Sometimes you even have to put crowns on milk teeth.

The Nutcracker uses all the possibilities of modern medicine to fully help the smallest patients: from composite materials to “laughing gas” and Sevoran anesthesia. We are convinced that the treatment of milk teeth should be of high quality, and the baby’s impressions from the clinic should be the most pleasant.

How is the replacement of primary teeth in children with permanent ones?

This is a truly amazing process.Milk teeth still do not think to fall out, and permanent teeth – molars – are already forming in the child’s jaws. The order of changing milk teeth in children suggests that as they grow, the roots of the milk teeth dissolve, which is why they begin to stagger and soon fall out. The order of appearance of molars is approximately the same as for temporary ones; terms – from six to 12-14 years, and “wisdom” teeth grow only by 20-25 years.

What should be done for the health of milk teeth?

Let’s summarize all those simple and, in general, obvious rules that will help us to preserve the healthy baby teeth given by nature throughout the entire period of functioning and not to bring it to the moment when the baby has a baby tooth hurts or its premature loss occurs.

• Avoid unnecessary medication during pregnancy and lactation to avoid damaging the developing teeth.
• Eat healthy food during pregnancy.
• Feed your baby with breast milk.
• Introduce solid foods into your child’s diet on time.
• Do not share a spoon with your baby (especially under two years of age), do not lick his nipple for the purpose of “disinfection”.
• Do not let your child fall asleep with a bottle of sugary drink.
• Carefully monitor your child’s oral hygiene from the first days of life.
• Have a regular check-up with your child at the pediatric dentist.

90,000 what is important for every parent to know

“What is there to treat at all?” – ask in bewilderment dad and mom, grandmothers and grandfathers of little toddlers, when they bring them to an appointment with a pediatric dentist. About this, as well as about what modern children’s dentistry is, what are the features of the development of milk teeth, about the problems that modern babies and their parents have to face, read in our material …

“Target audience” of pediatric dentists

Formally, our patients are children from 0 to 16 years old.But in practice – until the age when permanent teeth are completely replaced by milk ones. This happens by the age of 11-12. Our youngest patient is a 2 week old toddler. Ask, what does such a baby have to do with dentistry? We answer: the only reason for such babies to go to the dentist is a short hyoid frenum.

At a later age, we mainly work with baby teeth. We see permanent teeth only when it is necessary to seal the fissures (we will talk about this a little later) or, as a last resort, when it is necessary to treat medium caries, but not deeper.

But a teenager 11-12 years old is, in fact, still a child, you argue. And to some extent you will be right. That is why we have a teenage therapist for these patients. It is he who deals with the formed permanent teeth.

Milk tooth: let’s get to know each other!

Indeed, milk teeth have some anatomical features that are useful for every parent to know.

First, children’s teeth have roots (and sometimes they are longer than the roots of permanent teeth) and nerves.For some dads and moms, this often becomes a real discovery.

Secondly, the pulp occupies most of the crown of the milk tooth. And since the pulp horn comes too close to the proximal areas (that is, those areas that are in contact with the adjacent teeth of their row), even medium caries very quickly reaches the pulp, and pulpitis develops. In this case, pain in children’s caries occurs mainly with direct contact of a sick tooth with food. Spontaneous pains are extremely rare – only in the case of already advanced pulpitis.

Now let’s talk briefly about the eruption of milk teeth and their change to permanent ones. The first milk teeth appear at about 7-8 months, and by 2.5 years a small person should already have a “full set” – these are 20 milk teeth. Moreover, if up to 2.5-3 years there is a short period of stabilization, then a gradual resorption of the roots of milk teeth begins. By the age of 7, there is a change in the central teeth – incisors. At the age of 9-10, the chewing group changes. But “long-livers” canines can stand up to 11-12 years.It is important to note that these are approximate dates for teething and tooth replacement. And today they are quite strongly displaced, mainly to the earlier side.

Each age has its own dental “surprises”

While adults have approximately the same “set” of dental diagnoses and their complications throughout their lives, then each age period has its own characteristics in children. So, what should you be prepared for …

The main treatment in infancy is a short frenum of the tongue.Most often, this problem is detected by district pediatricians who observe the baby in the first year of life.

What to look for: if the baby does not take or suckle well, does not grasp the nipple or nipple correctly, gets tired quickly, cries, does not eat enough, loses weight, one of the reasons may be a short bridle.

Solution. This problem is easily corrected in a few seconds by cutting the frenum of the tongue. At the age of up to 3-5 months, this does not even require anesthesia, since the operation is absolutely painless and bloodless, because the mucous membrane is very thin and there are no complicated strands.

Advice. If a diagnosis is made, do not delay the operation, so that it really goes quickly and painlessly.

As we said, it is from 6-7 months that the first milk teeth appear, and by the age of two all teeth should erupt.

At this stage, age after 1 year becomes critical. It was during this period that the first caries appears, and behind it – quite rapidly – pulpitis. What are the causes of these diseases at such an early age?

Reason # 1.Night feeding. Just imagine: your child drank breast milk at night (and it is very sweet), kefir, compote or juice. The remains of food or drinks literally “stick around” the teeth, and they mainly flow to the upper teeth from the side on which the child sleeps (which is why we treat the upper teeth much more often than the lower ones). At night, the secretion of saliva is reduced, it is practically not produced, just like in adults.

An ideal environment for the development and reproduction of bacteria appears, which gradually begins to destroy the enamel of the tooth, which leads to the so-called caries in the stain stage.Indeed, if you look closely, you can see white spots on the teeth. Then the tooth itself begins to crumble. Caries rapidly reaches the pulp …

This disease even received an honorary title – “bottle caries”. However, the name of this ailment is very conditional, and the word “bottle” should not mislead parents. That is, the cause of its occurrence can be both breastfeeding and drinking from a bottle or from a spoon with juices and compotes.

BTW!
By the localization of bottle caries, doctors can determine on which side the baby sleeps.

Reason number 2. General somatic ailments that are most often inherent in premature babies and babies whose mothers suffered from toxicosis during pregnancy. With severe toxicosis in a woman, there is a disturbance in phosphorus-calcium metabolism, which, in turn, leads to disturbances in the maturation of the enamel of milk teeth.

Reason number 3. Lack or inadequate dental hygiene.

Solution. When caries occurs, the only way of treatment can be only drilling the affected tooth tissues and replacing them with filling material.

If we talk about the treatment of pulpitis of chewing teeth in children, then we remove the pulp from the crown (!) Part, put a special medicine and close it with a filling. Only in 10-15% of cases, when the nerve is severely inflamed, it is necessary to remove it entirely, clean and rinse the canals. This does not affect the rudiments of permanent teeth. Physiological processes proceed as they should: the roots gradually dissolve, the milk tooth falls out, and the permanent one takes its place.

The most difficult thing is the treatment of the upper central teeth (incisors), since they take a long time during restoration.First, we completely remove the nerve, fill the canals with a special material, and put a filling. The treatment of one tooth takes on average 30-40 minutes. Now ready-made crowns make the work easier. There are metal crowns (“3M” and “New smile”), covered with enamel. They follow the shape of the tooth and are very durable. And for their installation, turning and casts are not needed.

BTW: Even a carious cavity “in contact” (that is, at the point of contact with an adjacent tooth) must be treated as pulpitis – that is, with amputation (removal) of the pulp from the coronal region.

The fact is that if only caries is treated and the infected pulp cavity is closed with a filling (and it is impossible to determine by eye whether it is infected or not), then the missed inflammatory process will rapidly begin to develop. And after 1-2 months this tooth will have to be re-treated again, only this time – from pulpitis.

Advice. To preserve dental health, it is necessary first of all to give up night feeding. The only thing you can give your baby at night is plain water.And as practice shows, the children of those parents who heed our recommendations keep their teeth healthy for a long time.

Secondly, parents should know and remember that the appearance of the first tooth, that is, the age of 6-7 months, is the best time to start the obligatory daily procedure of brushing your teeth. Today, in any pharmacy you can buy special toothpastes for children from 0 to 3 years old. A special brush is put on the finger, and the teeth are cleaned. The rules for brushing your teeth are very popularly explained in the instructions attached to the toothpaste.And we, for our part, are always happy to show and tell how this is done in practice. After cleaning, the residues of the paste are carefully removed with a napkin or … are eaten by the baby (and this is completely safe!). And you need to brush your teeth, like adults, 2 times a day – in the morning and in the evening.

Thirdly, teeth with a long “lifespan”, and these are primarily chewing teeth (they are also most susceptible to caries), it is necessary to do preventive sealing of fissures (fissures are depressions on the surface of the teeth that are located in the region of the chewing surfaces) at the age 2 years old.It protects the chewing surfaces of the teeth from caries damage. First, we clean (reamer) the tooth a little, and then cover it with a special compound that “seals” the tooth and protects it from caries.

And fourth, starting from 2 years old solid food should be present in the child’s diet – carrots, apples, drying, bagels. The fact is that the abundance of soft food does not stimulate the roots of milk teeth to resorb, and as a result, the permanent teeth come out the second row along with the milk ones.Solid food also contributes to the formation of a correct bite. In addition, it cleans teeth mechanically. And do not be afraid, healthy teeth will not break from this, since enamel is the hardest thing in the human body.

BTW: In many children, the rudiments of permanent fifth teeth are not formed in principle. According to one theory, this is precisely because in the diet of modern babies, soft food plays the “main violin”, but there is no solid food. Since there is nothing to chew – why teeth? ..

If at the age of 1 to 3 years “bottle caries” was avoided or defeated and parents monitor the observance of thorough oral hygiene and diet, then up to 5-6 years there comes a period that, perhaps, can be called a period of physiological calm.But starting from the age of 5, the risk of caries increases again.

Reason. This process is physiologically determined: the jaw grows, the front teeth (incisors) move apart – so-called diastemas appear. Because of this, the lateral, chewing, teeth “clump together”, that is, the distance between them decreases. Since they are too close to each other, they are difficult to clean properly. There is a so-called “contact caries”, that is, in those places where the teeth are in contact with each other.And in the best possible way this process is facilitated by food debris stuck there.

BTW: The most common reason for going to a pediatric dentist is caries, which quickly turns into pulpitis.

Solution. At this age, the doctor decides whether to treat or remove a tooth, depending on which tooth is affected and what is its “lifespan”. For example, incisors that fall out already at 6-7 years of age do not make sense to treat – such a tooth is removed. Chewing teeth that last up to about 10 years, or canines that change at 11-12 years old are worth fighting for.

Advice. The only way to avoid caries “on contacts” is to thoroughly clean out food debris, especially between chewing teeth in places where they come into contact with neighbors.

This advice also applies to those children whose teeth, for prophylactic purposes, were sealed fissures at an earlier age. Let us recall that only the chewing surfaces of the teeth can be sealed and protected with a special composition, and the contact surfaces remain in the “risk zone”.

At the age of 5-6 years, speech therapists are often referred to the correction of the bridle. If at an early age the bridle interfered with sucking, now the child can begin to burst because of it, does not pronounce some of the sounds. At this age, the bridle is cut with a laser – it is painless and bloodless.

Silver tooth!

Yes, some clinics still offer such a method of “treatment” of caries as “silvering”. And then the patients of these clinics come for retreatment.It is fair to say that “silvering” teeth is not a treatment at all. This technique is really still widespread, although it is completely ineffective. Silver closes the onset of caries, but does not cope, as promised, with the pathological process, which develops safely and is further aggravated under the “silver”. The teeth are discolored and blackened. A few months after such “therapy”, children again go to the doctors, but with pulpitis (at best) or with black, decayed teeth, which have to be removed.

Come visit us … as often as possible

So at what age should you start visiting the dentist, you ask. The answer is …

Scheduled clinical examinations begin at 1 year. This is due to the fact that now dental diseases are early and rapid. The frequency of visits depends on the susceptibility to caries. If we have treated most of the teeth before the age of 2, then it is necessary to carry out professional examinations every 3-4 months. If the teeth remained healthy for up to 2 years, then these lucky ones only need to see a doctor every six months.Some parents bring their children to the dentist once a year, but this is too rare: since the processes are fast, there is a risk of missing caries at the initial stage.

We not only monitor the current state of teeth and “catch” caries at the initial stages of development, but also try to predict how the jaw will develop and teeth will form in the future.

Depending on the indication, prophylactic examinations are also combined with professional dental cleaning, for example AirFlow. The frequency of this procedure depends on how much the parents or the baby himself is thoroughly brushing his teeth.Someone needs professional cleaning once a month, someone – once every six months.

Children’s dentist – universal doctor

Indeed, he is both a surgeon and a therapist. It is on the pediatric dentist that the overall dental health of the little patient depends.

But besides that, one of his tasks is to “catch” a child with an incorrect bite and send him to another doctor – an orthodontist. And, believe me, it is better to do this at 4 than at 14, when not his mother, but he will bring his mother by the hand and say that he has “crooked teeth”.After all, occlusion disorders are much easier to correct on the plates, which are placed at the stage of milk teeth, and not on braces. Moreover, it is several times cheaper.

Orthodontist: come on time

The smallest orthodontist’s patients are children at the age of 3 years who had their front teeth removed – incisors. In this case, the doctor will be able to replace the missing teeth with plates – then it will become more convenient for the child to chew, new teeth will come out correctly and the jaw will develop.

A malocclusion can be traced at the stage of the mixed bite, that is, at about the age of 5 years, especially when the permanent 6th teeth begin to cut.Also, the reasons for the formation of an incorrect bite at this stage can be:

• diastemas (gaps between the teeth) or, conversely, crowding, which can appear when the jaw is preparing to change teeth;
• anatomically small jaw, where powerful and large permanent teeth may not fit.

Only an orthodontist can correct the bite at an early stage. And, of course, the attending physician will always tell you when to look into a colleague’s office.

Does pediatric dentistry have any specific features? What difficulties do you face?

The main and main feature is, first of all, work with small children. If sometimes it is not easy to “come to an agreement” with an adult, then with a baby you have to resort to all sorts of tricks and tricks. Very often we have to deal with “bribery” from parents who promise their child to buy “anything”, if only the baby opened his mouth and let the doctor treat his teeth.We are against this. It is necessary for the child to form the correct motivation and, in the end, make the visit to the dentist an enjoyable (in the literal sense of the word) event. It is this task, in addition to, of course, the actual treatment, we set ourselves as one of the most important and work in this direction, and very successfully.

Another feature is the use of anesthesia in pediatric dentistry, since at the age of up to 3 years it is almost impossible to establish adequate communication with children, they simply do not have enough perseverance.The need for anesthesia is also due to the large volume of treatment. Unfortunately, today we see very young children – 1 year and 2-3 months old – with already numerous and advanced caries. Although, ideally, it is undesirable to start dental treatment before 1 year 7 months – it is by this age that the roots grow and are fully formed.

If parents do not adhere to our recommendations regarding dental hygiene and diet, we have to deal with the fact that children come to the third anesthesia during the year.We try to explain to parents that anesthesia is not a panacea. It can be justified once, but then everything must be done to prevent the appearance of caries again, and, consequently, anesthesia.

90,000 8 common myths about milk teeth

10.05.2018

The appearance of the first tooth in a baby is always an exciting event in the family. However, parents tend to underestimate the importance of the first teeth. Of course, baby teeth will fall out sooner or later, but they are not just a temporary phenomenon.Milk teeth lay the foundation for the development of jaws, bones and muscles, and also pave the way for molars. The formation of milk teeth in a child begins in the womb at about the 7-13th week of pregnancy. Usually the first teeth erupt at the age of 6-8 months, they grow in pairs. The first to appear are the central incisors, then the lateral incisors, the first molars (4th teeth of the milk row), canines, and finally, by the age of 2.5-3 years, the second molars erupt (5th teeth of the milk row). A fully formed milk bite (the mutual position of the dentition when the upper and lower jaws are tightly closed) consists of 20 teeth.

There are especially many myths in the topic of pediatric dentistry. Due to common misconceptions, parents sometimes do not take their child to the doctor when needed, or refuse the necessary procedures.

MYTH 1. It is not necessary to brush the first teeth.

You need to take care of your teeth from the moment they erupt. Nowadays, there are various means for cleaning milk teeth: napkins, rubber fingertips, small toothbrushes.All of these devices can be purchased at the pharmacy. When caring for the baby’s oral cavity, special attention should be paid to the base of the teeth near the gums, where plaque accumulates. It must be removed. Babies need to brush their teeth after each feeding. At the age of 1 year, your child can purchase a baby toothbrush with soft bristles to protect delicate gums from injury. Starting from 2 years old, you need to brush your teeth 2 times a day – in the morning and in the evening. In addition, the sooner the baby learns to use the brush on his own, the sooner it will become a habit for him and, as he grows up, it will be easier for him to accept the need for daily oral care.

MYTH 2. Milk teeth can be left untreated, as they will fall out anyway.

In the absence of high-quality cleaning of teeth, a white carious spot appears under soft dental plaque. This stage of initial caries is reversible: with proper hygiene, the stain will gradually disappear. The next stage is the appearance of a defect: the integrity of the enamel (outer shell of the tooth) is broken, a cavity appears in the tooth. From this point on, caries develops faster, since dentin (the hard tissue of the tooth located under the enamel) is less dense than enamel, and it becomes more difficult to clean your teeth properly.With the penetration of microorganisms into the cavity of the tooth where the nerve passes, pulpitis occurs – an inflammatory lesion of the pulp of the tooth (the pulp consists of blood vessels and a nerve), which can be accompanied by pain, but, as a rule, is asymptomatic in milk teeth. The pain may appear later, when the nerve completely dies and there is a focus of infection outside the tooth – in the bone. In addition to pain, pulpitis is sometimes accompanied by swelling of the gums, the appearance of a fistula on it (a channel between the focus of infection and the gum), and tooth mobility.The pathological process – from the appearance of a white spot to the development of inflammation outside the tooth root – can be as fast and take several months, or last for years, depending on many factors. To avoid dental problems, you should visit your pediatric dentist regularly.

This myth is so tenacious that one is simply amazed. Most moms and dads are convinced that if baby teeth still fall out, then there is nothing to waste money and time on their treatment. However, this is not only wrong, but also dangerous!

MYTH 3.Milk teeth with caries – for removal!

It seems to parents that there is nothing wrong with that. But removing them too early will harm the future bite. The fact is that the rudiment of a permanent tooth is located under the milk tooth, which “holds” a place for it.

If the milk tooth leaves its “post” too early, then adjacent teeth will take its place in the jaw.

As a result, the permanent tooth has nowhere to go: its place is taken, and it erupts not in the dental arch, but above or below.This is how “shark teeth” are formed, which then frighten the parents. That is why decay of milk teeth should be treated with only a very last resort.

MYTH 4. Children don’t need crowns or dentures

As we have already found out, it is very important to maintain space for your permanent teeth, even if they have not yet erupted. But what if the baby tooth still needs to be removed or, say, is knocked out as a result of an injury?

For this, there are children’s prostheses.They are removable plates with one or more artificial teeth that prevent neighboring teeth from moving and taking up empty space. In addition, why torment a child who, due to the lack of teeth, cannot normally bite and chew food?

If the tooth is badly damaged, but its root was preserved, then special children’s crowns for milk teeth are used.

MYTH 5. A child can brush his teeth with an adult toothpaste

Many parents simply do not know how children’s pastes differ from adults.Firstly, the enamel of milk teeth is less durable than the enamel of permanent teeth, therefore, children’s pastes are less abrasive. Secondly, children’s toothpastes do not contain fluoride, since small children often swallow the toothpaste, and fluoride can have a neurotoxic effect.

MYTH 6. A child should be taken to the dentist only if the teeth hurt

Many adults do this too, refusing preventive examinations. But this is the wrong approach, because in fact, most carious teeth are generally invisible to the patient.How so? It’s very simple: often caries develops in hard-to-reach places. At the same time, bacteria make a tiny hole in the tooth enamel, which is quite hard and mineralized. Once inside, they quickly destroy soft dentin and reach the nerve.

Thus, the tooth looks intact, and when the enamel is chipped off or the dentist opens it, it turns out that there is a large cavity inside.

Preventive examination, professional cleaning, fluoridation of teeth to strengthen the enamel – this is what will help to avoid such a nuisance.

MYTH 7. Children do not have pulpitis

It is difficult to say where this myth came from, since children do not just have pulpitis – it can very quickly turn into chronic pulpitis! If caries is left untreated, then the child rapidly develops pulpitis as a result, and when parents neglect its treatment, it turns into periodontitis – inflammation of the tissues surrounding the tooth. It is a serious condition and it is best to treat both tooth decay and pulpitis in a timely manner to avoid such problems.

MYTH 8. A child does not need a pediatric dentist; an “adult” doctor who is visited by mom and dad will also do.

Even if a family dentist has been treating you for many years, your baby needs a pediatrician. First, he will quickly find contact with the child. Secondly, all the equipment, painkillers and medical materials in pediatric dentistry are designed taking into account the characteristics of the child’s body. Even the atmosphere in the children’s department is relaxing: there are bright pictures on the walls, cartoons are broadcast on TV, there is a play area where the baby can play before the dentist’s appointment.Everything to make the child feel comfortable. It is also important that a doctor must have an appropriate license to treat children. It is better to choose a doctor in advance, focusing on the recommendations of friends and the experience of a dentist, so that you do not have to look for a clinic for your baby by trial and error. Try to maintain the correct hygiene of the baby’s milk teeth to prevent the formation of caries. Visit your dentist regularly, who is able to discern the destructive process at an early stage or carry out preventive procedures.

Pediatric dentistry – baby teeth, eruption of permanent teeth

All About Teeth: When Do Teeth Appear?

The development of deciduous and permanent teeth begins at the 6th week of intrauterine life, when the body length of the embryo is only about 11 mm, and continues until the 5th year of life. The order of the formation of teeth determines the order of their eruption. Those teeth, the laying of which occurs in the first period (up to 5 months) of intrauterine life, erupt first.These are milk or temporary teeth. The teeth laid down from the 5th month of intrauterine life to the 5th year of the child’s life erupt secondarily and are permanent. Milk teeth in humans are 20: 8 incisors, 4 canines and 8 molars.

Milk teeth erupt in the following order:
Central incisors – 6-8 months.
Lateral incisors – 8-12 months.
First molars – 12-16 months
Canines – 16-20 months
Second molars – 20-30 months

From 6 to 12 years old, milk teeth are gradually replaced by permanent ones (a period of changeable bite begins). An adult normally has 28 teeth: 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 small molars (premolars), and 12 large molars (molars). There are also optional 4 “wisdom” teeth. They can begin to grow at 16 and 30 …

The eruption of permanent teeth takes place in the following order:
The first molars are 5-6 years old.
Central incisors – 6-8 years.
Lateral incisors – 8-9 years.
The first premolars are 9-10 years old.
Second premolars are 11-12 years old.
Canines – 10-13 years old.
Second molars are 12-13 years old.
Third molars (wisdom teeth) are usually 18-28 years old.

As a rule, the teeth of the lower jaw erupt before the teeth of the upper jaw. Often there are deviations from the usual timing of teething: more often they erupt earlier. A 1-2 month delay in teething is not considered a pathology. If the eruption of the first teeth is delayed by 4-6 months, it is necessary to consult a pediatric dentist.Violations of the early stages of development of tooth germs lead to a variety of defects in the formation of all or individual teeth. In the intrauterine period, the formation of hard tissues occurs only in the crown of the tooth, while the formation of the root proceeds after birth, starting shortly before eruption, and is completely completed (for milk teeth) by 1.5-4 years.

Dentist advice

SMALL TEETH ARE BIG PROBLEMS?

Parents often have many questions about what problems there are with baby teeth, how to properly care for them and how to maintain a beautiful smile of the baby for many years.

Normally, the first milk teeth appear at 6 months, and by the year the child should have 6-8 teeth. Recently, however, these norms have been increasingly violated. Early teething usually occurs in children prone to acceleration. Such “early” teeth are more prone to caries and other diseases. True, now all over the world there is a reverse trend – to late teething even with normal psychomotor development of the baby. Sometimes various diseases (for example, rickets, frequent acute respiratory viral infections, acute intestinal infections) are “to blame” for the delay in the appearance of teeth, which weaken the immune system of the crumbs and slow down the eruption.If the baby’s first teeth appear very late (closer to a year), the doctor will most likely refer you to an endocrinologist to check the thyroid gland of the baby and mother.

Bite ATTENTION

Parents rarely pay much attention to the child’s bite, believing that it is formed by itself. In fact, it is necessary to monitor the correct bite in a baby from an early age. Often, bite pathologies are inherited by children from their parents. Therefore, it is so important to promptly consult with a specialist in order to prevent this problem.If the baby is artificially fed, sucks on a nipple or finger, often bites its lip – all this can contribute to the formation of an incorrect bite. A child who often suffers from colds with a runny nose (because of which the baby is forced to breathe with his mouth, not his nose), also increases the risk of deformation of the dentition. When changing milk teeth to molars (from 6-7 years old), it is important that permanent teeth do not grow in the second row: if the little one has lost a milk tooth ahead of time, it is usually replaced with a special prosthesis to prevent deformation of the dentition.

CARIES

Caries is a disease of the hard tissues of the tooth, which leads to the formation of damage first, and then a cavity in it. Caries is found in children aged 2-3 years, and sometimes younger. The prevalence of caries by 4 years in different regions of Russia is from 20% to 80% and depends on the ecology and living conditions. What is the reason for the prevalence of this disease? Milk teeth have very thin enamel, which is quickly destroyed by lactic acid produced by bacteria from plaque left after eating.These harmful microorganisms easily penetrate the enamel-dentin border into the tooth, which leads to the development of caries. The dentin of milk teeth is very soft, so cavities can develop much faster than in adults. Even with a small hole, the tooth can be completely destroyed inside. Many parents believe that there is no need to monitor the condition of milk teeth and treat them, as they will fall out anyway. In fact, if untreated, bacteria that develop in the carious cavity can penetrate the gum and subsequently infect the molar, which will be more difficult to treat.In addition, with early extraction or loss of a milk tooth, adjacent teeth begin to move, which interferes with the eruption of a molar. As a result, a permanent tooth may erupt out of place. Also, the absence of milk teeth can make it difficult to chew food, develop the correct bite and diction of the child, and negatively affect the formation of the facial skeleton.

Therefore, if you notice darkening or holes on your child’s teeth, if the baby complains of pain in the tooth while eating (usually when eating cold or hot food), chews only on one side, urgently consult a pediatric dentist.Caries detected in time is treated quickly, effectively and practically without discomfort.

KEEP YOUR TEETH

The main cause of most problems with baby teeth is improper care and unbalanced nutrition of the child. Doctors say that it is necessary to start taking care of milk teeth from the moment they erupt. This is especially true for children who are bottle-fed. Gently wipe your teeth with a damp cotton swab or tissue, or use special brushes to clean your first teeth.By the age of 2-2.5 years, teach your baby to rinse his mouth after eating and brush his teeth. Of course, a child can really do this on his own no earlier than at 4-4.5 years old (and then under the supervision of adults), however, from the age of two, the baby must get used to the mandatory hygienic procedures. Never lick a baby’s spoon or pacifier. The saliva of an adult contains microorganisms with which our body already knows how to fight, but which pose a danger to “immature” milk teeth.The enamel is spoiled by acids produced by bacteria that feed on carbohydrates. Therefore, the less time sweet foods are in the child’s mouth, the better. For example, a piece of chocolate (no more than 2-3 squares per week) will be less harmful than a lollipop. After sweets, be sure to let your baby eat an apple or carrot if it is not possible to use a toothbrush.

If you give a baby to drink at night, do not give him sweetened milk and sweet juices. At night, there is less saliva than during the day, and there is no natural self-cleaning of the oral cavity.Therefore, the consumption of carbohydrates at night is especially dangerous and can lead to the occurrence of the so-called bottle caries. Monitor the nutrition of the crumbs. To strengthen teeth, you need calcium, phosphorus (milk, cheese, cottage cheese), fluoride, vitamin D (butter, cheese, egg yolk, fish oil), vitamin C (citrus fruits, green onions, currants, rose hips, tomatoes, cabbage), vitamins A and group B.

Teach your child to chew food thoroughly, not snack on the go. If the baby prefers soft and semi-liquid foods, accustom him to harder foods, let’s gnaw fresh vegetables and fruits, crackers.After all, our teeth need training and constant work no less than muscles

LET’S GO TO THE DENTIST!

And although the formation of the bite ends at 12-14 years old, it is necessary to pay attention to whether the teeth grow evenly now. In general, the first visit to the dentist should be made when the baby is two years old. However, if there are problems and at 6 years old, it is not too late to get rid of them. This will avoid even greater difficulties and costly treatment in the future. Therefore, if you notice that the first permanent teeth are growing incorrectly – contact a specialist, do not wait until the milk teeth are completely replaced with permanent ones.

But even if the child is not worried about anything, he still needs to be brought to an orthodontist or pediatric dentist for examination.

During this period, many parents make a common mistake – they miss the appearance of sixth molars (as a rule, by the age of 6, a child already has 20 teeth – if you count from the center, then five in each direction). The fact is that the sixth teeth are very important, and they are the key of occlusion, that is, the teeth of the upper and lower jaw close in different positions when the jaws move relative to each other.These teeth are most often the target of plaque, and therefore bacteria. Since the tooth enamel at this age is still just maturing, very often the tooth begins to deteriorate prematurely. To prevent this from happening, the sixth teeth should be especially protected, a number of preventive procedures should be carried out, for example, sealing the fissures (those very natural depressions on the chewing surface of the tooth). This is a procedure using fluoride or calcium – the tooth is covered with a compound that protects it from destruction.A prophylactic examination is also necessary for the detection of caries in deciduous teeth. At one time, our mothers were convinced that milk teeth do not need to be treated – after all, they will fall out anyway, but today we know that this point of view is erroneous. It has been proven that a destructive carious process not only affects the existing milk tooth, but also passes to the rudiments of permanent teeth.

And if you cannot cope with such a factor as heredity on your own, then ensuring proper nutrition and hygiene is a feasible task.The child’s diet must contain sufficient dairy products (cheese, cottage cheese, milk), as well as fruits: oranges and other citrus fruits, currants, rose hips) and vegetables (green onions, tomatoes, cabbage). It is also necessary to do a kind of physical education for the teeth, because the teeth, like all organs, need training. Therefore, teach your child to chew food thoroughly, not to eat hastily. More often, nibble on a raw carrot or apple with the skin.

Milk teeth in children

The baby’s first teeth are formed during the mother’s pregnancy.And their growth is part of the development and maturation of the child. Milk teeth are called temporary, but they serve for a long time – the change to permanent ends as early as 13-14 years old. Therefore, taking care of a child’s teeth requires a lot of attention.

How many milk teeth do children have?

Temporary teeth grow less than permanent ones – only 20. When milk teeth change to permanent ones, 8-12 new teeth appear. Therefore, dairy plants rarely grow – they save space.

As early as one year old, the baby has all the incisors. Doctors assess development according to pediatric standards – 16 out of 20 teeth should erupt by 2 years. At the same time, you need to remember: norms are average indicators, babies do not grow according to the training manual.

How children’s teeth climb depends on many factors:

• quality of nutrition, balance of vitamins;
• time of the appearance of the first tooth;
• high / low jaw load; 90,072 90,071 genetic traits;
• immunity and past diseases.

The complete set may not appear by 5 or grow at 2 years – there is no cause for concern if you regularly undergo check-ups, follow the recommendations of dentists and pediatricians. There are no deviations, but baby teeth do not grow in children? Just wait, that’s how genetics turned out to be.

When do baby teeth fall out?

Children start to change teeth at 6. Sometimes the first tooth can fall out at 5 or 7 years. There is a relationship between the beginning of the growth of milk teeth and loss – the incisor has grown at 5 months, will begin to fall out at 5 years.

Incisors change first. At the age of 9-11, the canines change, up to 12 – the first and second premolars grow. The change of milk teeth ends at 13-14 years old: the second molars grow and a permanent bite is formed. Wisdom teeth, the third pair of molars, are the last to grow in an adult.

Diseased teeth fall out faster than intact, healthy ones. Girls renew their temporary teeth faster than boys.

Notice to Parents

☑️ The empty hole should not bleed much.If the capillaries are touched, it is enough to attach a sterile swab until the blood stops. Set aside lunch for 1 to 2 hours. You can drink unsweetened liquids, preferably water.

☑️ There is no need to smear the wound with antiseptics or rinse your mouth – the blood clot covering the hole will be washed out.

☑️ Blood does not stop for more than 10 minutes – consult a doctor.

☑️ To strengthen the roots of new teeth, the jaws must be stressed. Give your child more fruits and vegetables to chew on: apples, young carrots.

☑️ Calcium is required for growing teeth. They are rich in dairy products, especially hard cheese, cottage cheese and kefir. There is a lot of calcium in greens and legumes; in order to “get” it from food – add 10-20 grams of fat to the dish.

Candy for children is possible! The main rule for the prevention of caries in children during the growth of teeth is that no sugar or food particles should remain in the mouth.

Candy is tasty and safe if you brush your teeth or rinse your mouth with clean water after dessert.

Read also:

Procedure for changing milk teeth in children

There is a universal rule: how the teeth grow in children, in this order they fall out. Is the circuit malfunctioning? Everything is all right, this is a feature of the organism.

In half of the cases, the first to grow are “sixes” – molars. Their appearance often goes unnoticed – there are no temporary analogs. It is these molars that are the first to suffer from caries. It is necessary to take the child for preventive examinations so as not to miss the new “tenant”.

After the appearance of the “sixth” the order of growth of the teeth corresponds to the rule:

• central incisors;
• lateral incisors;
• canines;
• premolars;
• first molars and second molars.

Do I need to see a pediatric dentist?

If a child’s teeth grow without pain and inflammation, it is enough to go for regular preventive examinations every six months.

Make an appointment at the dental clinic when:

• molars do not grow for more than 5 months.Orthodontic treatment may be needed – bite correction.
• indigenous began to grow, but dairy still remained. To form a correct bite, you need to remove the temporary teeth.
• milk teeth fell out due to trauma. Adjacent teeth can take up empty space and the molar has nowhere to grow.
• The child is grinding his teeth violently at night. Because of this, the enamel is damaged, so the dentist prescribes special mouth guards that are put on the teeth before going to bed.