Children baby teeth

Baby Teeth - American Dental Association

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If you think your baby’s toothless smile is cute, just wait until their first few teeth make an appearance.

When Do Baby Teeth Come In?

A baby’s 20 primary teeth are already present in the jaws at birth and typically begin to appear when a baby is between 6 months and 1 year.

Most children have a full set of 20 primary teeth by the time they are 3. Check out this baby teeth eruption chart to see the order in which teeth break through and at what ages you can expect specific teeth to appear. Every child is different, but usually the first teeth to come in are located in the top and bottom front of their mouth.

When teeth first come in, some babies may have sore or tender gums. Gently rubbing your child's gums with a clean finger, a small, cool spoon or a wet gauze pad can be soothing. You can also give the baby a clean teething ring to chew on. If your child is still cranky and in pain, consult your dentist or physician.

Why Baby Teeth Matter

Baby teeth are very important to your child’s health and development. They help him or her chew, speak and smile. They also hold space in the jaws for permanent teeth that are growing under the gums. When a baby tooth is lost too early, the permanent teeth can drift into the empty space and make it difficult for other adult teeth to find room when they come in. This can make teeth crooked or crowded. That’s why starting infants off with good oral care can help protect their teeth for decades to come.

When Should I Start Taking My Child to the Dentist?

After the first tooth comes in and no later than the first birthday. A dental visit at an early age is a "well-baby checkup" for the teeth. Besides checking for cavities and other problems, the dentist can show you how to clean the child's teeth properly and how to handle habits like thumb sucking. Learn more about how to prepare for this visit.

How to Care for Your Child's Teeth

It’s important to care for your baby’s teeth from the start. Here's what to do:

Begin cleaning your baby’s mouth during the first few days after birth by wiping the gums with a clean, moist gauze pad or washcloth. As soon as teeth appear, decay can occur. A baby’s front four teeth usually push through the gums at about 6 months of age, although some children don’t have their first tooth until 12 or 14 months.
For children younger than 3 years, start brushing their teeth as soon as they begin to come into the mouth by using fluoride toothpaste in an amount no more than a smear or the size of a grain of rice. Brush teeth thoroughly twice per day (morning and night) or as directed by a dentist or physician. Supervise children’s brushing to ensure that they use of the appropriate amount of toothpaste.
For children 3 to 6 years of age, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Brush teeth thoroughly twice per day (morning and night) or as directed by a dentist or physician. Supervise children’s brushing and remind them not to swallow the toothpaste.
Until you’re comfortable that your child can brush on his or her own, continue to brush your child's teeth twice a day with a child-size toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. When your child has two teeth that touch, you should begin cleaning between their teeth daily.

Baby’s First Tooth: 7 Facts Parents Should Know

By: Dina DiMaggio, MD, FAAP & Julie Cernigliaro, DMD

1.

Most babies will develop teeth between 6 and 12 months.

There is a wide range of variability of when a first tooth may appear—some babies may not have any teeth by their first birthday! Around 3 months of age, babies will begin exploring the world with their mouth and have increased saliva and start to put their hands in their mouth. Many parents question whether or not this means that their baby is teething, but a first tooth usually appears around 6 months old.

Typically, the first teeth to come in are almost always the lower front teeth (the lower central incisors), and most children will usually have all of their baby teeth by age 3.

2. Fluoride should be added to your child's diet at 6 months of age.

Fluoride is a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay by hardening the enamel of teeth. The good news is that fluoride is often added to tap water. Give your baby a few ounces of water in a sippy or straw cup when you begin them on solid foods (about 6 months of age). Speak with your pediatrician to see if your tap water contains fluoride or whether your child needs fluoride supplements. Fluoride is not typically found in most bottled water. See FAQ: Fluoride and Children for more information.

3. Massaging sore gums, offering something cold, or acetaminophen, on an occasional rough night, can help soothe your baby's teething pain.

Usually teething doesn't cause children too much discomfort, however, many parents can tell when their baby is teething. Babies may show signs of discomfort in the area where the tooth is coming in, the gums around the tooth may be swollen and tender, and the baby may drool a lot more than usual.

Parents can help ease teething pain by massaging their baby's gums with clean fingers, offering solid, not liquid-filled, teething rings or a clean frozen or wet washcloth. If you offer a teething biscuit, make sure to watch your baby while they are eating it. Chunks can break off easily and can lead to choking. Also, these biscuits are not very nutritious and most contain sugar and salt.

A baby's body temperature may slightly rise when teething; however, according to a 2016 study in Pediatrics, a true fever (temperature over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) is not associated with teething and is actually a sign of an illness or infection that may require treatment. If your baby is clearly uncomfortable, talk with your pediatrician about giving a weight-appropriate dose of acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or if over 6 months, ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin). Make sure to ask your pediatrician for the right dose in milliliters (mL) based on your child's age and weight.

Many children, however, will have no problems at all when their teeth come in!

4. Do not use teething tablets, gels with benzocaine, homeopathic teething gels or tablets, or amber teething necklaces.

Stay away from teething tablets that contain the plant poison belladonna and gels with benzocaine. Belladonna and benzocaine are marketed to numb your child's pain, but the FDA has issued warnings against both due to potential side effects.

In addition, amber teething necklaces are not recommended. Necklaces placed around an infant's neck can pose a strangulation risk or be a potential choking hazard. There is also no research to support the necklace's effectiveness. See Teething Necklaces and Beads: A Caution for Parents for more information.

5. You should brush your child's teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.

Once your child has a tooth, you should be brushing them twice a day with a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice, especially after the last drink or food of the day. Remember not to put your baby to bed with a bottle—it can lead to tooth decay.

Once your child turns 3, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD)recommend that a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste be used when brushing.

When your child is able, teach them to spit out the excess toothpaste. It is best if you put the toothpaste on the toothbrush until your child is about age 6. Parents should monitor and assist their child while brushing until they are around 7 or 8 years old. When your child can write their name well, he or she also has the ability to brush well.

6. Ask your pediatrician about your baby's teeth and fluoride varnish.

During regular well-child visits, your pediatrician will check your baby's teeth and gums to ensure they are healthy and talk to you about how to keep them that way. The AAP and the United States Preventive Services Task Force also recommend that children receive fluoride varnish once they have teeth.

If your child does not yet have a dentist, ask your pediatrician if they can apply fluoride varnish to your baby's teeth. Once your child has a dentist, the varnish can be applied in the dental office. The earlier your child receives fluoride varnish the better to help prevent tooth decay.

7. Make your first dental appointment when the first tooth appears.

Try to make your baby's first dental appointment after the eruption of the first tooth and by his or her first birthday.

Both the AAP and the AAPD recommend that all children see a pediatric dentist and establish a "dental home" by age one. A pediatric dentist will make sure all teeth are developing normally and that there are no dental problems. They will also give you further advice on proper hygiene. If you don't have a pediatric dentist in your community, find a general dentist who is comfortable seeing young children.

Additional Information:

Brushing Up On Oral Health: Never Too Early to Start
How to Prevent Tooth Decay in Your Baby
Brush, Book, Bed: How to Structure Your Child's Nighttime Routine
Give Your Baby the Best Possible Start

About Dr.

DiMaggio:

Dina DiMaggio, MD, FAAP, is a board certified pediatrician at Pediatric Associates of NYC and at NYU Langone Medical Center. She is the co-author of The Pediatrician's Guide to Feeding Babies and Toddlers, a comprehensive manual written by a team of medical, nutrition, and culinary experts. Follow her on Instagram @Pediatriciansguide.

About Dr. Cernigliaro:

Julie Cernigliaro, DMD, is a board certified pediatric dentist and the Associate Director of the Pediatric Dental Residency Program at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. She holds a faculty position at NYU College of Dentistry and currently works in private practice at Happy Smile Pediatric Dentistry, PC in NYC.

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

What to do with fallen milk teeth - articles of the children's dental clinic "Martinka"

Contents

When to wait for the first fallen toothTeeth "for memory" - is it worth keeping Signs of different peoplesEnglish SlavsEuropeansGypsiesWaiting for the "tooth fairy"

The loss of the first milk tooth, as well as eruption, is a real event for both the child and his parents. But where to put the treasured tooth? There are many options, they can be associated with both “magic” or mythical properties assigned to the first tooth, and quite with real questions.

When will the first tooth fall out

The rudiments of permanent teeth are laid during the formation of the fetus in the womb. After birth, baby teeth begin to erupt, which are the precursors to adult teeth. The age of eruption can be different, there are cases when children are born already with teeth. Most often, earlier teething implies their earlier loss.

Children's teeth fall out in the order in which they erupted, but not necessarily. This is explained by the duration of preservation of the roots of milk teeth. Before the tooth begins to come out of the hole on its own, the root is resorbed, and the growing permanent tooth will push the temporary one.

The change of milk teeth to permanent teeth in children begins at the age of 5–6 years. However, this is an exclusively individual process, so the first milk tooth may fall out earlier, or vice versa much later. Normally, at the age of 8, the process of changing teeth should already begin in a child. If the teeth have not begun to fall out, you should contact your dentist to predict the eruption of permanent teeth in order to exclude a delay in the process due to violations.

The lower incisors located in the center fall out first. They are followed by the upper incisors. At the age of 7–8 years, the lateral incisors fall out. The process is then temporarily suspended. By 9At age 10, baby teeth begin to fall out again. And by the age of 14, most children have a complete dentition, with the exception of the eighth molars, which are also called "wisdom" teeth. In addition to 20 milk teeth, a teenager will already have a set of permanent teeth that did not have predecessors.

Teeth "for memory" - is it worth keeping

The first milk teeth are of great importance for mothers, not only when they erupt, but also when they fall out. Many mothers keep baby things memorable for them (tags from the hospital, footprints and pens, cut curls, and so on). When there is a change of milk teeth to permanent ones, mothers do not always dare to throw away the teeth, therefore they store them together with other things of the child that are dear to them.

But is it worth keeping milk teeth? There are many beliefs about where to put a child's teeth. Some tend to dispose of them, while others, on the contrary, attach great importance to this moment and the tooth itself. Disposal does not have any bad consequences, as well as storage of the tooth. If you leave a milk tooth at home, then over time it can simply crumble or dry out.

The storage of milk teeth can be approached from the other side - scientifically. British scientists have proven that stem cells can be obtained from the pulp of a milk tooth, which are increasingly used in the fight against serious diseases and cosmetology. But the properties of the tooth can only be preserved if it is properly stored. To do this, you can contact the stem cell center.

Signs of different nations

Modern people prefer not to believe in omens or hide their superstition. Some traditions have remained, but most of the absurd beliefs have nevertheless sunk into the past. So, in ancient times, it was believed that not only milk, but also permanent teeth, after their loss or removal, must be disposed of, since sorcerers, witches and magicians can steal them and use them for rituals and conspiracies. Each nation had its own examples and beliefs, which often have much in common with each other.

English

In the UK, it was customary to burn milk teeth as soon as they fell out. Thus, parents warned the risk of causing damage to the child or the whole family. The British were also of the opinion that if you bury a tooth in the ground, then a healthy and strong tooth will definitely appear in its place.

Slavs

The Slavic tradition was closer to our people. The children believed that after falling out, the tooth should be put behind the stove or in some corner, where it will be found and taken by a mouse or brownie. The replacement for the milk tooth was a healthy permanent one.

Europeans

A somewhat interpreted belief existed in European countries, where it was believed that the tooth should be placed under the pillow, from where it was taken by a small mouse. In return, she left treats or a coin. This tradition is maintained by most families today.

Gypsies

After a milk tooth fell out, at night it was buried deep into the ground, while uttering a conspiracy, or thrown into the field on the moon. Thus, luck was attracted to the child, which was supposed to accompany him all his life.

Waiting for the tooth fairy

The most popular tradition in the modern world is the tale of the tooth fairy. This tradition had its origin in Iceland, but gradually it passed to America, and then it was adopted by almost the whole world. This transition happened thanks to the cartoons that children watch.

According to tradition, when a baby tooth falls out, he must put it under the pillow, and when the child falls asleep, a little fairy flies to him. With a wave of her wand, she takes out a tooth from under the pillow, and puts a coin or sweets in its place. It is this fairy tale that modern children believe.

If the tooth was extracted at a dental clinic, then parents can confidently ask the dentist to give the tooth away so as not to upset the child, and put it under the pillow at night.

Whatever decision is made, it is important to keep the child's faith in magic and the importance of the events taking place.

Milk teeth in children

The first teeth are formed in a baby, even 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 at the age of 13-14. Therefore, taking care of your 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 are replaced by permanent ones, another 8-12 new teeth appear. Therefore, dairy grow rarely - they save space.

At the age of one, all the incisors appear in the baby. Doctors assess development according to pediatric standards - by the age of 2 years, 16 out of 20 teeth should erupt. At the same time, you need to remember: the norms are average indicators, kids do not grow according to the training manual.

How children's teeth grow depends on many factors:

quality of nutrition, balance of vitamins;
the time of appearance of the first tooth;
high/low jaw loading;
genetic features;
immunity and past diseases.

A complete set may not arrive by age 5 or may grow by age 2 - there is no reason to worry if you get regular checkups, follow the recommendations of dentists and pediatricians. There are no deviations, but baby teeth do not grow in children? Just wait, it's genetics.

When do baby teeth fall out?

The change of teeth in children begins 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, it will begin to fall out at 5 years.

The incisors are changed first. At 9-11 years old, the canines change, up to 12 - the first and second premolars grow. The change of milk teeth ends at the age of 13-14: 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 temporary teeth for molars faster than boys.

Memo to parents

☑️ An empty hole should not bleed much. If the capillaries are affected, it is enough to apply a sterile swab until the bleeding stops. Postpone lunch for 1-2 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 that closes the hole will wash out.

☑️ Bleeding does not stop for more than 10 minutes - see a doctor.

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

☑️ Growing teeth need calcium. They are rich in dairy products, especially hard cheese, cottage cheese and kefir. There is a lot of calcium in greens and legumes, to “get” it from foods - add 10-20 grams of fat to the dish.

Candy for children! The main rule for the prevention of caries in children during the growth of teeth is that sugar or food particles should not remain in the mouth.

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

Procedure for changing milk teeth in children

there is a universal rule: like a universal teeth: as a russual. children, in that order they drop out. Does the schema fail? It's okay, it's a feature of the body.

In half of the cases, the sixes - molars - grow first. Their appearance often goes unnoticed - there are no temporary analogues. 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 teeth growth corresponds to the rule:

central incisors;
side incisors;
fangs;
premolars;
first molars and second molars.

Should I visit a pediatric dentist?

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

You need to make an appointment at the dental clinic when:

a molar does not grow for more than 5 months. Orthodontic treatment may be needed to correct the bite.
Indigenous have begun to grow, but dairy still remain. To form the correct bite, you need to remove temporary teeth.
Baby tooth fell out due to trauma. Neighboring teeth can take up empty space and the root has nowhere to grow.
the child grinds his teeth strongly at night. Because of this, the enamel is damaged, so the dentist prescribes special mouthguards that are put on the teeth before going to bed.
Learn more