Your baby’s first visit at GriDent is fundamentally important as it forms the basis of our relationship. We work together with parents and guardians to obtain important information needed to provide excellent comprehensive dental care for your baby.
When will my baby starts getting teeth?
Teething, the process of baby (primary) teeth coming through the gums into the mouth, is variable among individual babies. Some babies get their teeth early and some get them late. In general the first baby teeth are usually the lower front (anterior) teeth and usually begin erupting between the age of 6-8 months.
Why are the primary teeth so important?
It is very important to maintain the health of the primary teeth. Neglected cavities can and frequently do lead to problems which affect developing permanent teeth. Primary teeth, or baby teeth are important for
- proper chewing and eating,
- providing space for the permanent teeth and guiding them into the correct position, and
- permitting normal development of the jaw bones and muscles.
Primary teeth also affect the development of speech and add to an attractive appearance. While the front 4 teeth last until 6-7 years of age, the back teeth (cuspids and molars) aren’t replaced until age 10-13.
Eruption of babies teeth
Babies teeth begin forming before birth. As early as 4 months, the first primary (or baby) teeth to erupt through the gums are the lower central incisors, followed closely by the upper central incisors. Although all 20 primary teeth usually appear by age 3, the pace and order of their eruption varies.
Permanent teeth begin appearing around age 6, starting with the first molars and lower central incisors. This process continues until approximately age 21.
Adults have 28 permanent teeth, or up to 32 including the third molars (or wisdom teeth).
|Milk Tooth||Primary Erupt||Permanent Erupt|
|Central Incisor||6-12 month||6-7 yrs|
|Lateral Incisor||9-16 month||7-8 yrs.|
|Canine (cuspid)||17-24 month||9-12 yrs.|
||12-19 month||9-11 yrs.|
|2. Premolar||23-33 month||10-12 yrs.|
First dental visit
Your baby should visit the dentist by his/her 1st birthday.
How should I clean my baby’s teeth?
As soon as teeth erupt, you should clean your baby’s teeth thoroughly once a day. Use water on a soft bristled brush. Introduce a pea-sized amount of fluoridated paste at 2-3 years of age, ensuring your child spits out excess paste after brushing.
What is baby bottle tooth decay?
Baby bottle tooth decay is also known as ‘nursing bottle caries’, ‘baby bottle syndrome’ or ‘early childhood tooth decay’. Tooth decay is a specific pattern of dental cavities that present in the very young child. Fortunately, it is entirely preventable by early introduction of good oral hygiene practices and attention to proper feeding habits. tooth decay can affect and damage the teeth as early as they are erupting into the mouth. It is known from past research studies that ECTD is caused by the combination of two main factors:
- Cavity-producing bacteria that colonize the mouth in infancy (usually transmitted from the mother)
- Frequently exposing the teeth to sugar-containing liquids that are fed through bottles and sippy cups which may include infant formulas, sweetened cow’s milk, natural fruit juices and other commercially available beverages.
How can I prevent my baby from getting tooth decay?
Of course, it is important to understand that all babies need nourishment to grow. However, here are some important preventive steps that can reduce the risk of tooth decay:
- Establish regular feeding and snacking times for your infant and young child
- Consider weaning at 12 to 14 months of age
- Don’t use sugar-containing beverages in the baby bottle or sippy cup just to quiet your child especially at naptime or bedtime – this can increase the frequency of exposure of the teeth to sugar-containing beverages.
- Encourage your child to have plain water if they ‘need’ to have a bottle or sippy cup between normal meal and snack times – it’s good for them (and better for their teeth)!
- Brush those precious baby teeth thoroughly at least once a day, with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
What does tooth decay look like?
After you have cleaned your baby’s teeth and gums it is a good habit to inspect the teeth carefully. Tooth decay in its early stages can appear as a white crescent-shaped line that is close to the gum-line area. This pattern most commonly appears initially on the upper front teeth because they are usually the first teeth to grow in and are least protected by the action of the tongue and saliva.
A dental professional should assess any suspect ‘white’ areas, as it is sometimes possible to arrest or slow down the decay process with preventive intervention. However, if the decay is allowed to progress, the white areas may quickly become pitted, soft, and stained. At that point, it may become necessary to assess the teeth for ‘fillings’.
Is my child getting enough fluoride?
You may have the fluoride level of your drinking water tested at your local Health Unit. If your child is not getting enough, fluoride supplements may be prescribed by your dentist.