Baby teeth are an important part of your child’s development and there are a few basic steps you can take to help your baby’s smile stay healthy. It is important to learn the stages of baby teeth development and the functions of these important teeth to know how to keep them as healthy as possible. It is also very important to keep an eye out for common problems and know the proper way to brush and floss.
Stages of Development of Baby Teeth
Teething begins at about six months of age when the baby’s first teeth push through the gums. These teeth are called incisors and are located on the front part of the mouth. The first teeth can be painful for your baby and typically cause a lot of discomfort. Luckily, there are ways to help your baby deal with the discomfort like freezing breastmilk and/or fruit into popsicles and giving baby chilled teething toys.
The next stage of teething begins between 10 and 14 months of age when the baby begins to get their first primary molars. You will find that your baby is able to chew a wider variety of foods with these new teeth. The teeth keep coming more abundantly now and your baby will soon be a toddler with 20 teensy teeth.
Jaw Development and Baby Teeth
When your baby’s teeth start to become more abundant, you should notice that there are spaces between all of them. When there are spaces between every tooth, we know that baby’s jaw is developing properly. However, when there are few to no spaces between baby teeth, this is a sign of underdevelopment of the jaw. When there are spaces between baby teeth, there is a high probability that there will be enough room for the adult teeth to have the room to grow in straight and healthy. Keep a close eye on the spacing of new baby teeth and contact our office for guidance if you notice teeth aren’t coming in with proper spacing.
Functions of Baby Teeth
Baby teeth play an important role in the development of the mouth muscles. These muscles help a child develop proper chewing habits and are crucial for speech development. Baby teeth also aid in the development of jaw bones and hold space for permanent teeth. Baby teeth are also important for speech development and normal function of the mouth muscles. It is very important to have healthy baby teeth to pave the way for healthy permanent teeth.
The first permanent teeth will appear when a child is about six years old, and the last will appear at around age twelve – not including wisdom teeth which typically come in at a variable time later in life. It is important for parents to teach their children about proper oral hygiene habits from a young age to prepare them to properly care for their permanent teeth.
How to Keep Baby Teeth Healthy
One of the best ways to prevent tooth decay in children is to demonstrate good oral hygiene habits early. For infants, this includes cleaning their gums with a clean washcloth or gauze pad after every feeding. It is also a good idea to clean their mouths with an extra soft toothbrush at least twice a day. This helps to get them used to the feeling of cleaning their mouth. Also, if possible, do not let them sleep with a bottle of juice or other sweetened drinks. Sugar can be harmful to your baby’s teeth, so limiting the amount of sugar that your child consumes is important.
Another practice that can help keep your baby’s teeth healthy is to give them hard foods to chew on. These foods include vegetables like celery sticks and whole carrots. These foods will require them to use their chewing muscles necessary for proper jaw development. Hard, whole foods can be placed in a meshed food feeder like the Munchkin to chew their food, allowing baby to mash the food without a potential choking hazed. Not only are foods like carrots nutritious, but they also require your child to use their chewing muscles, which will help develop a healthy jaw.
Common Problems with Baby Teeth
While the eruption of your child’s first few teeth is one of the most exciting moments of your baby’s life, there are also some common problems that become apparent as time passes in your baby’s new life. Seeing a dentist, like Dr. Carla Yamashiro, is important for early diagnosis and treatment. While some baby teeth issues are harmless, others may be serious and cause premature tooth loss.
The first sign that your child may be facing issues with tooth decay is the appearance of white spots at the gum line of the upper front teeth. This problem is hard to spot without specialized equipment, so it’s important to have your child’s teeth evaluated by a dentist as early in their life as you can. Early treatment is essential to avoid the worst consequences of tooth decay.
Aside from cavities, there are several other types of dental problems that can affect your child’s oral health. Some of these include gum disease, underdevelopment of the jaw, thumb-sucking, tongue thrusting and lip-sucking. If left untreated, these problems can cause serious problems later in life.
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