If you’re a parent, baby teeth are something that you probably think about often. They come in all shapes and sizes and it’s important to know what normal baby teeth look like so you can tell if they need to be seen by the dentist. In this blog post, we will give 5 must-know facts about baby teeth for parents!
Many parents are surprised when their babies start sprouting little white dots in the mouth at around 6 months of age. These are what will later turn into teeth! The two bottom front teeth usually come in first (the central incisors), followed by the two upper front teeth (the lateral incisors), and finally the four molars in the back of the mouth. This usually happens between 6 months to 2 years, but every child is different.
Why do we care so much about baby teeth? Because they serve an important purpose. Baby teeth help a child chew, speak, and smile. They also hold space for the adult teeth that will come in later. If a baby tooth is lost too early it can cause problems with permanent teeth coming in straight or even with speech development!
Baby teeth serve as placeholders for the adult teeth so they don’t crowd each other as they come in. If a baby tooth is lost too early then the surrounding adult teeth may become crooked. Further, it may even come in and impact (push up against) the permanent tooth under it.
If a premature loss of a baby tooth occurs, the surrounding adult teeth may become crooked or come up in an unpleasant way against the next tooth to erupt. As mentioned before, there are NO replacement teeth for baby teeth so any prematurely lost teeth will create problems for permanent teeth.
No matter how anxious you are to take care of your children’s teeth, don’t try to fix every little thing yourself. If your child has a loose or missing tooth then you definitely need to call the dentist immediately. Some teeth may be able to fall out on their own, but it’s still important to have them checked by an experienced professional so you can ensure that their teeth are developing properly.
In children, there are many different problems that can affect their dental health. Some of these problems include tooth decay, thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, lip sucking, and early tooth loss.
Baby bottle tooth decay happens when a baby’s teeth are in frequent contact with sugars from drinks. Oftentimes, this happens when a baby is goes to bed at night with a bottle. This can result in long term exposure to sugars on the teeth, which can increase the child’s risk for tooth decay.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry offers these helpful tips on how to best care for your child’s smile:
If your child is struggling with dental problems, or has yet to see a dentist, then call Mountain Aire Dentistry today. We want to help make sure they grow up with a happy, healthy smile! Call us today for an appointment: (303) 731-7755.
When you visit our Broomfield dental office, your smile is our top priority. Our Dentists invite you to experience the difference a warm and caring team can provide for you and your family. Enjoy a unique and comfortable dental experience designed to bring a healthier and happier smile back into your life. We invite you to call or visit our Broomfield dental office and discover the exceptional difference we offer to those we serve.