four to 12 months » Whānau Āwhina Plunket

Baby teeth order

Baby teeth can come through in any order, but most often the central bottom teeth are first to break through.  

Here’s the usual order teeth come through the gum. Don’t worry if your baby’s teeth follow a different pattern – they’ll all break through the gums at some point. 

Ministry of Health

Teething

Every baby reacts differently to teething. Some babies’ teeth pop through the gums without any problems, but for others teething can be painful and upsetting.  

Your teething baby may: 

• drool more  
• develop a dribble rash on their cheeks or chin 
• cry or seem grumpy 
• have a slight fever 
• have red cheeks 
• not eat or sleep well 
• want to suck on or bite things  
• pull the ear on the same side the tooth’s coming through 
• seem to be filling their nappy more than usual, or have different poo (which may cause nappy rash).    

Teething doesn’t make babies sick. If your baby isn’t well, it’s always best to take them to the doctor, especially if they have a fever or diarrhea, or you’re worried about any other symptoms. 

How to help your teething baby

It can be really upsetting to see your baby in distress. Here are some things you can do to help: 

• use a clean finger or the back of a cold spoon to gently rub their gums 
• wrap ice cubes in a clean face cloth and place it on your baby’s cheek 
• give your baby something to chew on, like 
• a clean teething ring (especially one you can cool in the fridge) 
• other cold things that they can suck on, like chilled fruit wrapped in a muslin cloth so they can’t chew bits off and choke on them
• try a teething gel from the chemist (carefully follow the instructions on how to use it).  

If your baby still seems unhappy or uncomfortable, it’s time to see your GP or child and family health nurse. Teething might not be the problem. 

Teething and breastfeeding

New teeth are super sharp, and it can really hurt if baby bites you while you’re breastfeeding. Pulling them off the breast while they’re biting can be even more painful. 

If your baby’s a biter, try taking them gently off the breast when they bite (by inserting your finger in the corner of their mouth to break the suction), have a short break, and then try again. Doing this every time they bite will teach them that breastfeeding stops when they do it. 

Your baby’s first teeth are important to help them eat and speak properly, and they guide the development of the second set of teeth. That’s why you need to look after them.  

You can start caring for and cleaning your baby’s gums well before the first tooth appears. Just wrap a clean, damp facecloth or gauze around your finger, and gently wipe their gums a couple of times a day.  This is a good idea because it gets them used to letting you touch their teeth and gums. 

As soon as teeth pop through, you can clean them twice a day (in the morning and before bed). You can use a small soft toothbrush with a thin smear of regular-strength fluoride toothpaste to gently brush your child’s teeth. Fluoride makes teeth stronger and reduces tooth decay (holes).  

How to brush your baby’s teeth

Babies can be super wriggly, and getting them to sit still to have their teeth cleaned can be challenging – but it’s worth the effort. Here’s how to do it: 

• place your baby in a position where you can see their mouth, and where they feel secure
• cup your baby’s chin in your hands, with their head resting against your body
• ” data-font=”Calibri” data-listid=”5″ aria-setsize=”-1″ data-aria-posinset=”1″ data-aria-level=”1″>clean their teeth using gentle circular motions
• lift their lips to brush the front and back of the teeth and at the gum line
• when you’ve finished, rinse the toothbrush with tap water, and store it upright in an open container so it can air-dry. Make sure it doesn’t rest against other family members’ toothbrushes, so decay-causing germs won’t travel between brushes and into your baby’s mouth.  

You should replace toothbrushes every three to four months, or when the bristles get worn or frayed. 

Choosing healthy drinks and food

At around six months old your baby might be ready to start eating solid food, and to start drinking from a sipper cup.  

To protect your baby’s teeth, choose healthy foods and drinks. Milk or boiled water can be given in a bottle or sippy cup. Sweet drinks, foods and juices can cause tooth decay and cause your baby to develop a taste for sugary foods. Children don’t need sweet drinks – milk and water are all they need. 

It’s not a good idea to put your baby to bed with a bottle, because going to sleep with a bottle of milk, a warm chocolate drink or juice will start to cause tooth decay. If they want to suck on something to settle themselves, you could use a pacifier/dummy with no sweetener. 

Read more about teeth and teething

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Dental care for baby teeth & gums

Baby teeth development

Baby teeth develop while babies are still in the womb. Newborns have a full set of 20 baby teeth hidden in their gums.

For most babies, teeth begin to appear between 6 and 10 months. But in some children, teeth appear as early as 3 months. In others, they don’t arrive until around 12 months. A very small number of children are born with 1-2 teeth. Most children have their full set of baby teeth by 3 years of age.

Baby teeth can arrive in any order, although the lower incisors are often first, followed by the upper incisors. The first molars are usually next, followed by the canines and second molars.

Teething

As each baby tooth gets to the surface of the gum, the gum opens up to show the tooth.

Babies sometimes rub their gums together when new teeth are starting to come through the gum. This isn’t usually a problem.

Many people think that ‘teething’ babies also:

• cry a lot or seem extra cranky
• don’t feed as well as usual
• suck on objects like toys, dummies and bibs
• have more dirty nappies more often
• pull the ear on the same side as the tooth coming through.

These signs might be caused by teething – or they might just be a normal part of development or a result of minor infections and illnesses. If your baby isn’t well, it’s always best to take your baby to your GP, especially if baby has a fever or diarrhoea or you’re worried about any other symptoms.

Teething: things to try

If you’re concerned about your baby’s teething, you can try:

• gently rubbing your baby’s gums with a clean finger – make sure to wash your hands first
• giving your baby something to bite on, like a toothbrush, dummy or cold but not frozen teething ring
• offering your baby mushier foods, which need less chewing
• giving your baby something firm, like a sugar-free rusk, to suck on.

Teething gels aren’t generally recommended because they probably don’t help to ease pain. They can also have harmful side effects.

If your baby still seems unhappy or uncomfortable, it’s time to see your GP or child and family health nurse. Teething might not be the problem.

Dental care for baby teeth and gums

Dental care for baby teeth can start before your baby’s first tooth appears. Once your baby is about 3 months old, you can gently wipe your baby’s gums using a damp, clean face washer or gauze twice a day. This helps your baby get ready for brushing when the first tooth appears.

As soon as the first tooth appears, clean teeth using a soft infant toothbrush designed for children under 2 years. If your baby doesn’t like the toothbrush in their mouth, you can keep using a clean, damp face washer or gauze to wipe the front and back of each tooth.

Use only water on the toothbrush until your baby is 18 months old, unless a dentist tells you to do something else.

Cleaning and caring for children’s teeth early on sets up good dental care habits for life.

The best way to clean baby teeth

1. Position your baby so you can see their mouth and they feel secure. It might help to sit on a bed or the floor with your baby lying down so that their head is on your lap.
2. Cup your baby’s chin in your hands, with their head resting against your body.
3. Lift your baby’s lip to clean teeth using soft, circular motions.
4. Make sure you spend time on the front and back of each tooth and also the gum line.

You can help your baby feel more comfortable with teeth-cleaning by giving them an infant toothbrush to play with and put in their mouth while they’re in the bath. Just make sure to supervise your baby while they’re playing with their toothbrush. And you can make brushing more fun by singing songs or letting your baby play with a toy.

Keeping the toothbrush clean

After cleaning your baby’s teeth and gums, rinse the toothbrush with tap water.

Store the toothbrush upright in an open container to allow it to air-dry.

You should replace toothbrushes every 3-4 months, or when the bristles get worn or frayed.

Preventing early tooth decay

Teeth cleaning alone isn’t a guarantee against tooth decay. Diet and the way you feed your baby are also important.

Give babies only breastmilk or formula until you introduce solids at around 6 months. Breastfed and formula-fed babies older than 6 months can also have small amounts of water. Avoid giving your baby sugary drinks. Once you introduce solids, also avoid giving your baby foods high in sugar.

Don’t put your baby to bed with a bottle. When your baby is asleep, there’s less saliva in the mouth to protect teeth. If your baby falls asleep with a bottle, milk might slowly drip into your baby’s mouth and soak teeth. This puts your baby at risk of tooth decay. Also note that putting your baby to sleep with a bottle is a choking risk.

If your baby likes a dummy, don’t dip it in food, sugar or liquids like honey.

To make sure your baby’s teeth and gums are kept healthy, it’s a good idea for you and baby to see a dentist or an oral health therapist when your baby is around 12 months of age or when the first tooth comes through, whichever happens first.

Molar teeth in children – teething symptoms, complications, care

all records

Each person changes milk teeth for molars. At 6-7 years old, the first incisor falls out, and the replacement of teeth ends after 20, when “eights” appear. New teeth grow according to an individual schedule, so the task of the parent is to teach the child how to properly care for the oral cavity and control how the molars grow in children.

When are the child’s molars cut?

Growing permanent teeth is a lot of work for the body, which we rarely notice. Changes begin at the age of 3 – the rudiments of molars are formed. At 5, noticeable gaps appear between the milk teeth to make room for new “tenants”.

Which teeth come out first is determined by the lottery – genetics. In half of the cases, growth begins with “sixes”. The molars grow by the age of 7-8, at the same time the front incisors change.

Teeth grow slowly but painlessly. At 14, the main bite is already formed. “Late” wisdom teeth – third molars grow in a few years, at 18-21 in most adults.

See also:

• prevention of caries in children
• treatment of milk teeth
• treatment of periodontitis in children
• dental filling

Molar teeth in children: teething symptoms

Almost all children develop molars painless and invisible. However, there are exceptions when the growth of permanent teeth is accompanied by discomfort. A common symptom when teeth are climbing is fever, up to 38 ºС. The child also complains about:

• weakness and drowsiness due to reduced immunity;
• coryza, profuse salivation;
• inflammation of the gums;
• itching, pain when eating.

Massage the gums to relieve discomfort in the mouth. Dental gel is used to relieve inflammation. Important: Before applying, disinfect your hands or put on sterile gloves.

Consult your dentist before buying medicines. Severe inflammation is a signal that the teeth are not growing properly. Without treatment, the child’s bite may be deformed.

Complications of teething

• bite defects. The molars are larger than the milk teeth; there may not be enough space on a narrow jaw. The bite changes if the milk teeth have not fallen out, but new ones have begun to grow.
• hyperdentia – teeth grow in the second row. This happens for various reasons, most often – the milk tooth is firmly held and the root is looking for other ways.
• teeth do not grow. If the milk has fallen out, and the permanent one is delayed for six months, you need to see a doctor. Poor tooth growth is one of the signs of problems with the immune system in children.
• caries and pulpitis. The first sign of enamel destruction is the child’s complaints of being set on edge, sweet and hot “enters” the tooth. If pulpitis affects the molars, the body temperature rises in children, severe pain appears. Then the treatment of pulpitis is urgently needed without delay.

Recommendations for the care of children’s molars

Children’s molars need careful care. Young enamel is sensitive to the effects of the external environment and bacteria that cause caries. Therefore, it is important to use hygiene products.

The best prevention is to teach your child to take care of oral hygiene before a permanent bite has formed. To keep your teeth healthy, you need to follow a few simple steps:

• brush your teeth every day ☑️. Use a toothbrush at least twice a day, use dental floss and rinses.
• correct diet ☑️. Sweet plaque on the teeth is the best food for bacteria. After meals with a lot of carbohydrates, brush your teeth or rinse your mouth. Avoid snacking when you can’t take care of your teeth.
• regular preventive check-ups ☑️. You need to visit the dentist every six months. Treat teeth as soon as problems are discovered.
• strengthen teeth ☑️. Eat a balanced diet, take vitamin and mineral complexes rich in calcium.
• regularly visit the dentist ☑️ and do professional teeth cleaning.

Dental care does not take much time, but simple actions now will allow you to maintain beautiful and healthy teeth for a lifetime.

How many teeth should a child have? – news and articles Refformat

The answer to the question “how many teeth does a child have?” is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. The child’s body changes almost every month – this also applies to teeth. Today we will try to figure out how many of them should be in different age periods.

Content

• How many baby teeth do children have?
• How many teeth should a child have per year?
• Change of milk teeth to molars
• How many teeth should a child have?

The answer to the question “how many teeth does a child have?” is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. The child’s body changes almost every month – this also applies to teeth. Today we will try to figure out how many of them should be in different age periods.

How many baby teeth do children have?

Dairy and even some molars begin to form even at the stage of intrauterine development. Of course, a child does not have visible teeth at birth – they begin to erupt only after 6 months. During this six-month period, they are hidden under the gums, but slowly develop and form, starting to move outward.

In total, the child grows 20 milk teeth:

• Central and lateral incisors – 8.
• Fangs – 4.
• First and second molars – 8.

Their main function is to form a space where molars will then grow.

How many teeth should a child have per year?

During this period, milk teeth begin to cut. They begin to break out in the following sequence on the upper and lower jaw.

Top:

• 8-12 months. Central incisors.
• 9-13 months. Side cutters.
• 16-22 months. Fangs.
• 13-19 months. First molars.
• 25-33 months. Second molars.

On the lower jaw, this process is distributed in time somewhat differently:

• 6-10 months. Central incisors.
• 10-16 months. Side cutters.
• 17-23 months. Fangs.
• 14-18 months. First molars.
• 23-31 months. Second molars.

It is worth noting that these time limits are averaged and deviations up or down by 1-3 months is considered the norm.

If you want to know how many teeth a child has per year is considered the norm, you should be guided by the above chart. You get that at the age of 12 months they should be 6-8.

Change of milk teeth to molars

Somewhere from the age of 4, a child’s growth spurt begins, the jaws increase and the milk teeth seem to move apart, gaps appear between them – three. If this does not happen and by the age of 5 the teeth are still tight, you need to show the child to the dentist, as there may not be enough space for permanent teeth.

At about 5-6 years old, milk teeth begin to loosen and gradually fall out, which indicates that molars are already starting to grow under them. Usually this process of change stretches for 5-8 years and the final formation of the dentition occurs somewhere around the age of 14-15.

This happens in the following order:

• 5-6 years old – lower and upper incisors.
• 7-8 years – lower and upper lateral incisors.
• 8-10 years – upper and lower molars.
• 9-11 years old – upper and lower canines.
• 11-13 years old – upper and lower molars.

Milk teeth are replaced by permanent molars. Their number at the age of 14-16 is 28. At the same time, the third molars (wisdom teeth) are already formed, but they begin to grow only after 18 years. True, not all people grow them. It all depends on individual characteristics.

How many teeth should a child have?

It all depends on age. The maximum number of teeth in the period from birth to 5-6 years is 20 – these are milk teeth.