Healthy baby teeth are important. They help children eat
well and speak clearly and allow adult teeth to grow in
properly. Some baby teeth fall out when your child is
six to eight years old, but others remain until they are
11 to 13.
Dental development
All 20 baby teeth usually come in by the time your child
is three years old. Tooth eruption varies from child to
child. Most children start to get teeth around six
months, but it is not unusual for teeth to begin
appearing as early as three months or as late as one
year. As with all aspects of child development, there is
a lot of variation among children.
Here is when you might see your child’s teeth come in:
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Six months – first incisors (front teeth) |
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Seven months – second incisors |
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12 months – first molars |
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18 months – canines (eye teeth) |
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Two to three years – second molars |
Teething
Teething is the process of tooth eruption and it can
cause pain, fussiness and drooling. If your child is
more upset or bad tempered than usual, wants to chew on
objects or has trouble sleeping, they may be teething.
To help ease the pain, many babies like to chew on cold
clean face clothes or teething rings. You can also rub
your child’s gums gently with a clean finger. Do not
give your child teething cookies as most contain starch
and sugar which promotes tooth decay.
Teething does not usually cause a fever or diaper rash.
If your child has a fever, visit your doctor.
Daily dental care
Start brushing your children’s teeth twice a day as soon
as their first tooth starts to come in. Use a soft baby
toothbrush with just a tiny dab of fluoridated
toothpaste. You will need to continue brushing teeth for
them during their infant and toddler years, and then
with them until they are about eight.
What causes tooth decay?
Tooth decay occurs when bacteria in the mouth uses
carbohydrates (sugars and starches) found in certain
foods to make acid. This acid eats away at tooth enamel,
causing pitted areas or holes. Young children are more
at risk for cavities than adults because the enamel or
outer surface of baby teeth is thinner than that of
adult teeth.
How to prevent decay
The easiest way to keep your children’s teeth healthy is
to keep them clean. You can do this by brushing them
with fluoride toothpaste twice a day, and especially
after their last feeding. Parents should also look after
their own teeth and seek regular dental care!
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