All About Baby Teeth

Your child’s baby teeth are important to their development. Smiling, chewing, and speaking are aided by these teeth. The primary teeth also hold the place for the permanent teeth to grow in. The health of the baby teeth is important because when a baby tooth is lost too early, the adult teeth can drift into the space. This can cause the adult teeth to come in crooked.

When Will My Child’s Primary Teeth Come In?
The first baby tooth usually erupts at about six months of age. However, the tooth can come in as early as three months or as late as one year. Generally speaking, every six months of a child’s life, about four teeth will erupt. The lower teeth usually erupt before the upper teeth. The baby teeth usually erupt in pairs, one on the right and one on the left. By the time your child turns two or three years old, all of their baby teeth should have come in. Be aware that the primary teeth are smaller and whiter than the permanent teeth that will come later.

How Do I Care for My Child’s Teeth?
It is important that you take care of your baby’s gums and teeth. Before their teeth come in, clean your baby’s gums with a soft, moistened washcloth or a piece of gauze at least twice a day. Make sure to wipe your baby’s gums after they eat. When your baby’s teeth begin go grow in, begin using a toothbrush with soft bristles. As soon as the teeth erupt, use a tiny amount of toothpaste to clean their teeth. Increase the toothpaste amount to about the size of a pea when he or she is about three years old. Brush your child’s teeth for them until he or she is old enough to hold their toothbrush and brush their teeth by themselves. Supervise your child’s oral hygiene until he or she can rinse and spit without assistance.

To learn more about baby teeth in Taylorsville, Utah, and to set up a visit with our pediatric dentists, Dr. Bailey and Dr. Reimschissel, contact West Valley Pediatric Dentistry at 801-417-8080 today!