Children’s baby teeth (milk teeth) are important for many reasons including the routine activity of chewing and speaking. They also play an important role to maintain space for permanent teeth developing underneath them in the jaws.
If the baby teeth (milk teeth) are well taken care of, then it is more likely that the permanent teeth will grow into their correct position. A rare fact that people don’t know is that children teeth start forming before birth and they are called infant teeth. Babies in the womb have about 20 teeth developing already.
Usually, at 6-7 months or in the earliest case around 4 months the first infant teeth start to erupt, in the lower central incisors, followed closely by the upper central incisors. Although 20 milk teeth usually appear by age 3, the pace and order of their eruption differ.
The first permanent tooth is normally one of the four six-year-molars-so named on the grounds that they show up around age 6. Molars are vital on the grounds that they help shape the lower portion of the kid’s face and also influence the position of the other permanent teeth.
A word of caution: The 6-year permanent molars are often confused as milk teeth & most often it has been neglected. Permanent second molars usually appear around age 12.
At a time, teeth of kids will have a complete set of permanent teeth except for the wisdom teeth or third molars which usually appear between age 17 and 25. Special attention should be paid to your kids teeth during the teen years, as it is during these years that most decay occurs.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
1. What is the right time to start caring for my children’s teeth?
Good dental health is established early in life. So, you can begin oral care soon after the baby’s birth. Gums should be cleaned after each feeding. Start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as they appear, using a super soft toothbrush.
2. When should I take my child to the dentist consultation?
Ideally, the first dental consultation should be on the first birthday. Your Dentist will check for the decay and other problems, teach you how to clean your kids teeth and identify your child’s fluoride needs. Starting dental visits early will help your child to build a lifetime of good dental habits.
3. Is teething painful?
Yes, when babies first teeth are erupting they often have sore and tender gums. The pain usually can be soothed by gently rubbing the baby’s gums with a clean finger, a small, cool spoon or a wet gauze. Teething does not cause a fever or diarrhea. However, this problem needs to be noticed as a separate medical concern.
4. Can babies get cavities?
Yes. Though milk teeth will eventually fall out, still they have the chances to get cavities and may need to be treated. As soon as teeth appear in the mouth, the cavity can occur. One serious form of the cavity among young children is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. It’s not good for babies to fall asleep with bottles in their mouths.
The sugar in milk formulas can cause tooth decay, leading to cavities, dental discomfort, and even tooth loss. Plain water is usually the best.
5. When should thumb suck stop?
Sucking is a natural behavior for babies. Many infant babies start sucking their thumbs or using pacifiers within three months of birth. Neither habit generally poses a dental problem if it is discontinued before the child‘s first permanent teeth erupt.
6. How can the Dentist protect your children teeth?
The Dentist can prevent cavities soon after the teeth erupt. The clinical treatment such as fluoride treatment and sealant will help to protect the teeth. Sealants are a safe painless and low-cost way to help protect your child’s teeth from decay.
The sealant is bonded to the chewing surfaces of the molars premolars, and thus prevents these teeth from decay. Fluoride application is a single sitting procedure done one every six months to make the tooth structure stronger and prevents cavities.
7. What are space maintainers?
A baby teeth usually stays in its position until a permanent tooth underneath pushes it. Once this process starts the milk teeth come out and permanent teeth take its place. Sometimes children lose a milk tooth too soon. In such cases, the teeth beside it may move into the empty space.
It would cause a lack of space for the permanent teeth, leading to teeth crowding. This can be prevented by the use of Space Maintainers. It is easier and affordable on your child to keep teeth in normal positions with a space maintainer than to move them back in place with orthodontic treatment.
Dental Health Tips
A balanced diet with good nutrition is important for healthy teeth and gums. Children need foods containing calcium that builds strong teeth (milk, cheese, etc.). Reduce the amount of sugary or starchy snacks. Consumer Snacks in moderation and include water to wash the mouth food particles.
Set regular snack-times to avoid constant cavity-causing foods. Take early dental care for your young one. Practice oral hygiene when an infant’s first tooth emerges. Encourage your kids to take good oral health and hygiene habits early. Include fluoride toothpaste.
Teaching your child to maintain good dental habits is the beginning of good dental health. Proper personal care and regular dental consultation can keep dental problems to a minimum.
Brushing Technique
- Holding the toothbrush at a 45 angle, brush in short up and down motions on the outer surface of the teeth. Do not scrub sideward.
- To brush the inside of the front teeth, use gentle up and down strokes with the head of the brush.
- Use back and forth motions for chewing surfaces.
Expert opinion
- Dr. Jena Shah Dental Director of Sabka dentist says “It’s important to support the child for his/her needs. A regular visit to the dentist is essential for preventing cavities.”
- Dr. Rupali Gujar Dental Director of Sabka dentist says “A child can be much more anxious if it is their first visit to a dentist. Pain and distress can happen at any time and it is important to prepare your child with regular visits.”
3 thoughts on “Children’s Teeth”
Amazing article. Loved it
Good information
Deciduous teeth are important for good eruption of permanent teeth so well explained article for the same