 Whitney Holmes, RDH | When will my child get his/her teeth? Typically primary teeth or "baby teeth" start erupting around 6 months of age. As every child is different, eruption times may vary. The first teeth to erupt are your child's two lower front teeth (central incisors), followed by the four top front teeth (central and lateral incisors). Then the remaining teeth start erupting in pairs until all 20 teeth are present. Your child should have all 20 of his/her primary teeth by 3 years of age. (*See chart below from the American Dental Assoc.) |
Why is it important to take care of baby teeth?
Won’t my child just lose them anyway?
Children will have all of their primary teeth up until the age of 6, and then they will start losing them and begin to get their adult teeth. Primary teeth are guides and place-holders for permanent teeth. They are also vital to your child's health and speech, as they help a child chew and speak clearly. Children who have to have extractions of primary teeth from decay, primarily from poor home care and frequent sugar exposures at night, are at a higher risk of orthodontic irregularities (malocclusion). Malocclusion in children put them at a higher risk of needing orthodontics or braces at an older age.
When does my child need to see a dentist and how do I take care of his/her teeth?
Our staff at MCHD Dentistry would like to see your child by age 1 (and so does the American Dental Association). Even if he/she only has a few teeth, that's ok! We use our time with the parents and children at their first dental visit to begin a lifelong relationship and give parents tips on how to take care of their child's teeth, such as:
- Children should have their teeth brushed 2xday by a parent/guardian, once in the morning and once at night.
- Children should not take anything to bed to drink with them, unless it is water. Absolutely no milk, juice or soda should be given to the child in his/her crib.
- Children should only have limited amounts of sugary drinks, like juice, tea, milk, and soda, during the day. Parents should try their best to limit those sugary drink exposures to mealtimes, thus lessening the negative effects of sugar and acid.
It is very important to teach your child to take care of his/her teeth at an early age. Primary teeth are just as important as permanent teeth and they should be well taken care of! Call 304-598-5108 to schedule your child's first dental visit today!
We can’t wait to meet you and your whole family!
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