All about baby teeth “Teeth, they come in handy when you chew or smile,” wrote Dr. Seuss and he was not wrong. Even our primary or deciduous teeth are important. They may not be in our mouths for very long but they serve several important functions. Let’s take a look at the brief and important life of baby teeth and the best way to take care of them. 

Baby Teeth Enter Two by Two

Between the age of four to seven months, something amazing happens to every baby. Their first teeth arrive and from that point forward, a general rule of thumb is that, for every six months of life, four more teeth arrive until the child is around three years old and sports a full smile of pearly whites. Here is the order of teeth.

  • First teeth to arrive, the lower central incisors (two center teeth) at 4-7 months.
  • Next up, the upper central incisors (two central upper teeth) between 8-12 months.
  • The upper lateral incisors (the two teeth to the left and right of the middle teeth on the top) are next up at 9-13 months.
  • Followed by the lower later incisors (the two teeth to the left and right of the bottom middle teeth) at 10-16 months.
  • First of the upper molars (wider, flatter teeth at the back of the mouth) arrive between 13-19 months.
  • The second set, the lower molars arrive between 14-18 months.
  • Upper canines or upper cuspids (they fill the gaps between the molars and the incisors on the top) are the next set to arrive, between 16-22 months.
  • Lower canines or lower cuspids (they fill the gaps between the molars and the incisors on the bottom) come up next between 17-23 months.
  • Lower second molars arrive next at around 23-31 months.
  • The final set of teeth, the upper second molars arrive between 25-33 months.

What Do Baby Teeth Do?

Although baby teeth are great for adorable smiles and making the baby look cute, that is not their primary function. In addition to helping the child chew and break down food for nutrition, they also serve as placeholders for permanent teeth. After four years old, spaces will begin to develop around the baby teeth to allow extra space for the permanent teeth to grow into. Our baby teeth are crucial in the development of our speech skills as well. 

What is the Best Way to Take Care of Baby Teeth?

It’s almost never too early to start attending to your child’s oral care. While they still have a gummy smile, you can wrap your index finger in a damp washcloth or gauze and massage the infant’s gums. This is a good practice because sometimes you do not notice when the baby’s teeth begin to cut through the gums. As soon as the baby’s teeth begin to show, you can use a toothbrush with a tiny amount of infant toothpaste to brush the baby’s teeth twice a day. You will want to make sure you brush gently and replace the toothbrush often; whenever the brush’s bristles become splayed. Children should meet the dentist for the first time around six months after their first tooth shows or by the child’s first birthday. When the child is older and ready to start brushing their teeth by themselves, you can make it fun by brushing your teeth together and leading by example. Around their sixth birthday is when the first of their primary teeth will fall out and become replaced by a permanent tooth. This same thing will happen to each of the baby teeth gradually. Until the child is twelve years old, their mouth will be full of a combination of baby and permanent teeth.

Maintaining good oral hygiene is a lifetime commitment and begins before the deciduous teeth even present themselves. By ensuring that your child’s baby teeth are well cared for, you are giving their permanent teeth the best possible start. This is important because those are the teeth that will last them for the rest of their lives. Visit Wake Pediatric Dentistry when your child starts getting teeth to make sure everything is growing correctly and to catch any issues before they develop. Schedule your appointment with us today! We cannot wait to see you!