The sprouting of your infant’s first teeth is a special moment for any parent, but with the first tooth comes a new responsibility – dental care. We’re not saying that you need to bust out the toothpaste as soon as the first tooth erupts (in fact, don’t do that), but there are some things you’ll want to know about your child’s primary teeth and how to best care for them. We share some of those tips in today’s blog.
The Growth of Primary Teeth
All children grow at their own pace, but most children get their first tooth between the ages of six and nine months. The lower middle incisors are usually the first to appear, followed by the upper central incisors. Most kids will have two middle teeth on both the upper and lower gum to begin, and then they will develop lateral incisors, which involves one more tooth to the outside of each of the first four teeth in their mouth, bringing their total to eight teeth.
Next to form and poke through the gumline are the first molars, followed by the canines. The final teeth to develop are your second molars, and by age three, most kids have their full 20-tooth set of primary teeth. They are typically whiter than adult teeth because they have a thinner layer of protective enamel on them, which is just another reason why dental hygiene for your primary teeth is so important.
The Importance Of Dental Hygiene For Baby Teeth
Don’t get us wrong, having good dental hygiene is important for your child’s primary teeth, but the greater benefit of good oral health in the beginning stages of tooth development may be that you’re instilling the importance of dental care in your child. You only get one set of adult teeth, so establishing good dental health with their primary teeth can go a long way in ensuring your child has healthy teeth for decades to come.
And just because your child’s first set of teeth are going to fall out, doesn’t mean that you can ignore healthy dental routines. The American Dental Association recommends that parents wipe their child’s teeth and gums with a wet washcloth after every meal, and then work towards establishing a good brushing routine as they grow.
This can begin with brushing teeth with a tiny amount of child’s toothpaste on your finger, transitioning to brushing without any toothpaste on the brush, to eventually brushing with toothpaste on a toothbrush. Check out more tips here to learn how to get your kids to brush your teeth.
Also, now is a good time to start thinking about setting up a dental visit for your child. Most dentists recommend that a child has their first visit around one year of age to ensure everything is developing as it should. Your dentist can also give you specific recommendations based on your child’s mouth and tooth development so that you know what to expect and how to care for their teeth between appointments. If you want to set up an appointment, or you’d like to learn more about your child’s primary teeth, please give Dr. Brooks’ office a call today.
