When your infant starts smiling with teeth instead of gums, it’s a major milestone. New teeth are vital for your baby’s mouth and teeth.
What’s The Deal With Baby Teeth?
Baby teeth prepare the mouth for permanent teeth. Baby teeth make kids grin and do other things.
- They aid chewing and eating. Chewing breaks food into digestible pieces.
- Teach your child to speak. Healthy primary teeth help children construct words and talk clearly.
- They hold permanent teeth in place and guide their emergence.
When Baby Teeth Come In
When your baby is teething, its first set of teeth comes through its gums. First tooth eruption. Babies obtain their first teeth at about 6 months. Teething begins between 3 and 12 months.
Timeline Of When Teeth Come In
Baby teeth begin to grow before a baby is born. In the second trimester, tooth buds form. After birth, teeth roots expand and push through the gums.
Teething Signs
Teething is different for every baby. Some babies show no signs of being sick, while others seem to be in a lot of pain. Some common signs that your baby may be teething are:
- Drooling
- Irritability
- Redness or swelling of the gum
- Ear rubbing
- Facial rash
- Pleasant weather
- Sucking or biting
Taking Care Of Baby Teeth
Wipe your baby’s mouth daily with a moist washcloth before they obtain their first tooth. As soon as the first teeth come in, brush them twice a day with a small soft-bristled toothbrush and a rice-sized amount of fluoride-containing toothpaste. Spit toothpaste with your child.
Cavities And Baby Teeth
Uncared-for baby teeth might have cavities like permanent teeth. It can happen if a baby is placed to bed with a bottle, utilizes a bottle as a pacifier, or uses a bottle or sippy cup for long periods of time. Already-in-the-mouth bacteria devour sugar, multiply, and produce acid. Acid erodes teeth and enamel, causing cavities. Fill infant bottles with water, milk, or formula and remove them while your child sleeps to prevent tooth decay.
Other things you can do to avoid cavities are:
- Don’t give your baby sticky foods or unhealthy snacks between meals, like candy, soda, or juice. Give your baby healthy snacks like cheese, yogurt, or fruit instead.
- Don’t give your child too much juice. The young children shouldn’t have more than 6 ounces of juice per day, and that juice should only be given at meals. Babies younger than six months should not be given juice.
- If your child uses a pacifier, make sure it is clean and don’t dip it in sugar or honey.
- If you notice white spots on your baby’s teeth, call your pediatric dentist right away to set up an appointment. Often, the first sign of a cavity is a white spot on the tooth.
First Dentist Visit
The child should go to the children’s dentist Hornsby for the first time before their first birthday or six months after their first tooth comes in.
Prevention and education are the keys to healthy teeth for life. You can schedule a “Baby and Me” appointment for your child under the age of two. We look for cavities and make sure your baby’s teeth are coming in correctly. We also talk about how your child’s dental health and well-being can be affected by proper oral care, diet, and habits.
This first visit is a great chance to show your child how fun and good dentistry can be.
