Baby Teeth 101: Everything You Need to Know About Your

Child’s Teeth

Baby Teeth 101: Everything You Need to Know About Your Child’s Teeth

IntroductionBaby teeth—they start sprouting through the gums a few months after birth, stick around for a couple years, and then fall out. What is the point? What are they there for? Do you even need to worry about them since they will be replaced sooner or later, anyway?

Baby teeth are actually an extremely important stage in your child’s development, and there is a lot you should know about them to ensure the short- and long-term health of your child. Fortunately, Penn Dental Family Practice is here to offer you everything you could possibly want to know about baby teeth!

Baby Teeth: What Are They and How Are They Different From Adult Teeth?

Did you know that babies are born with most of their teeth already developed in their gums? Around 8-12 months after birth, these teeth will begin to make an appearance. Baby teeth are very similar to adult teeth—the primary differences are that they are smaller, they eventually fall out, and there are 12 less than in the adult mouth. There is no room in a child’s mouth for those 12 extra teeth (otherwise known as the first, second, and third molars—six on the top, six on the bottom,) so they will not make an appearance until between ages 10 and 21.

Although baby teeth are similar to adult teeth, the care required, as well as conditions and complications which may arise, are different due to the fact that the child’s mouth is continually growing and developing.

Baby Teeth 101: Everything You Need to Know About Your Child’s Teeth

The Lifespan of Baby Teeth

Parents are often very anxious about their children’s development and have many questions. When should baby teeth show up? Are they delayed? When should they fall out? What happens if they don’t fall out when they are supposed to?

Knowing what to expect from your child’s teeth can not only alleviate some of your anxieties, but also help you to notice if something isn’t progressing the way it should—and to see a dentist before any serious problems arise. Let’s take a look at the stages of development and what to expect.

This chart shows you the approximate ages at which your child’s teeth should appear and fall out, and when adult teeth replace them.

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Baby Teeth 101: Everything You Need to Know About Your Child’s Teeth

Delayed Eruptions of Baby Teeth

Parents shouldn’t worry too much if their baby’s teeth don’t fall exactly within the typical time frame, especially if there is a family history of delayed tooth eruptions. However, if no teeth have appeared by 19 months, your child should be examined to determine if there is a complication in development.

Conditions that may cause delayed eruption include:

Family trait

Premature birth or low-weight at birth

Genetic abnormality

Nutritional deficiencies

Vitamin D resistant rickets

Down’s Syndrome

Hypopituitarism or a similar developmental defect

Generally, late tooth eruption is not a serious cause for concern, as the teeth will usually appear in time without intervention. However, late eruptions do put teeth at a higher risk of complications and a need for orthodontic intervention.

Baby Teeth 101: Everything You Need to Know About Your Child’s Teeth

Baby Teeth That Don’t Fall Out

Like baby tooth eruptions, tooth loss should also occur along a general timeline. While there certainly may be harmless variation among children, if a baby tooth sticks around too long, it could require attention.

Causes of retained baby teeth include:

Partially or completely missing adult teeth (that never developed in the gums, called “tooth agenesis”)

A baby tooth that is fused to the jawbone

Teeth that are crowded or misaligned

A traumatic injury or infection preventing teeth from developing properly

In some cases, a retained baby tooth can continue to function normally for decades. However, in other cases, the tooth may result in misalignment, shifting of adult teeth, or other dental complications. Any developmental concerns should be discussed with a dentist to determine the best course of action.

Baby Teeth Will Just Fall Out: Why Are They Important?

We all know that baby teeth are just going to fall out, so does it really matter how well they are taken care of? Aren’t adult teeth a clean slate?

The answer to that is a resounding “No.” Not only is it imperative to establish good dental hygiene at a young age in order to maintain that later in life, but there are also many serious complications that can occur from poor dental hygiene in children.

Baby Teeth 101: Everything You Need to Know About Your Child’s Teeth

Teeth are crucial for proper chewing, speaking, and smiling. Without a healthy set of teeth, all of these things can be affected and have numerous secondary consequences. Baby teeth serve as place-holders while the mouth grows enough to allow adult teeth to take their places. If baby teeth are lost or need to be removed prematurely, the rest of the teeth will shift to fill in the gap—and crowd out new teeth as they grow.

How to Care for Baby Teeth and Keep Them Healthy

Did you know that your child’s teeth are at risk of decay from the moment they first appear? Taking care of your child’s teeth should be a top priority from that very first tooth. But don’t worry: while tooth decay is a real concern, there are effective methods for fighting it.

Here are the basics of caring for your young child’s teeth:

Brush twice daily: Until your child is capable of doing a sufficient job brushing their own teeth, be sure to do it for them twice a day (with a grain-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste for children under three, and a pea-sized amount for those three and older.) Use a child-size toothbrush to make sure you can reach their whole mouth.

Floss daily: Once your child has two teeth that touch, you should begin to clean between them daily.

Schedule a dental appointment: As soon as that first tooth appears, it is time to make an appointment. This not only helps your child to become accustomed to visiting the dentist, but also allows the dentist to evaluate the child’s growth and development to make sure everything is progressing properly.

Provide fluoride: In addition to fluoride toothpaste, most tap water has added fluoride, which protects and strengthens enamel. If your child primarily drinks

Baby Teeth 101: Everything You Need to Know About Your Child’s Teeth

bottled or unfluoridated water, then she or he may be missing out on this important benefit.

Encourage a healthy diet: Diet is crucial to healthy teeth. Sugars and acids are the main culprits when it comes to tooth decay. Limiting sugary and acidic foods will go a long way in helping maintain your child’s dental hygiene.

Don’t share germs: Parents will often share food utensils with their baby or clean a pacifier by sucking on it. However, this can introduce tooth decay-causing bacteria into the child’s mouth.

Consider sealants: Sealants are applied to the cracks and crevices on the chewing surfaces of teeth and help to prevent cavities. Talk to your dentist about whether sealants would be a good choice for your child.

Baby Teeth 101: Everything You Need to Know About Your Child’s Teeth

Tips for Making Oral Hygiene Fun

Taking care of your child’s teeth is important, but eventually, that responsibility will have to be passed on to them. Establishing good habits and a positive attitude towards dental hygiene at a young age can make a tremendous difference in how they care for their teeth later in life.

Here are some tips to help your children perceive oral hygiene as fun and enjoyable:

Create a Fun Environment: Get creative and make the time spent taking care of their mouths a fun event. Play music, have a dance party, create associations with something your child enjoys!

Stick to a Routine: Don’t lapse on the routine, even for special occasions or when your normal routine is off. The more your child makes a habit of their dental hygiene, the less of a chore it will seem.

Reward Good Dental Hygiene: Figure out what motivates your child and reward him or her for doing a good job with dental hygiene. Whether it be something as simple as praise, stickers, or a bedtime activity.

Go Shopping: Let your child be a part of the process by allowing her or him choose a favorite toothbrush. Even little things like this can make brushing teeth exciting to a child.

Provide a Good Example: Make dental hygiene time a family activity. Doing it together will be more fun and provide your child with a good example to emulate.

Baby Teeth 101: Everything You Need to Know About Your Child’s Teeth

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Why You Should Choose a Pediatric Dentist

As covered earlier, baby teeth are similar to adult teeth, and any dentist can provide care for them. However, as shown above, there are many different stages in the development of a child’s baby teeth and jaw which may result in child-specific conditions and complications. A pediatric dentist has studied these phases of child development and the conditions and treatments specific to them.

Furthermore, it is crucial to establish a good relationship between your child and the dentist to ensure that she or he will continue to pursue dental treatment and good oral hygiene throughout life. Pediatric dentists not only have specialized training for treating children’s teeth, but they are also experienced in helping children feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed during the visit.

At Penn Dental Family Practice, we offer many dental specialties, including pediatric dentistry. That means you can come to us with your whole family and know that each individual will get the specialized care that they need. We understand that children face a unique set of dental challenges as well as emotional needs, and we are prepared to meet those.

Contact us today—we look forward to helping you!