Baby teeth are formed in the mother’s womb, around the 7th or 8th week of pregnancy.
There are only 20 of them, and their health depends on genetics and the mother’s diet. Adequate calcium is necessary for their normal development, but that doesn’t mean you need to take pounds of supplements. Not all calcium is easily absorbed by the body, and dairy products in sufficient quantity are much more beneficial.
And if you want to ensure your baby has a Hollywood smile, it’s also worth seeing a dentist in a timely manner.
When to expect them
Teething doesn’t always go smoothly, and it’s better to be prepared for it. Usually, the first tooth appears between 3 and 8 months of age, although it’s highly individual. Sometimes babies are born with teeth, and sometimes the first tooth doesn’t come until almost a year old. Boys usually cut teeth a little later than girls. Frequent infectious diseases, rickets, or indigestion can slow the process down. Water quality, diet, and even climate can have a big impact on the speed of teething. Overall, the rate of appearance doesn’t affect tooth health, so it’s more important to worry about them coming in the right order.
What to expect
The beginning of abundant drooling is a sign that the teething process has started. Often, the child becomes restless and irritable because their gums are itching. The baby will put anything they can into their mouth and try to bite down on it. This massages their gums, increasing blood circulation and easing their discomfort, which helps speed up the teething process. Prepare a few teething toys in advance. You can cool them slightly in the refrigerator to provide a mild anesthetic effect, but do not freeze them in the freezer. A hard surface can easily injure the delicate gum tissue. Special dental gels available at pharmacies without a prescription can also help relieve the itching.
Sometimes, the gums swell, the baby cries, cannot sleep and loses their appetite. Teething can also cause unpleasant symptoms such as diarrhea, runny nose, coughing, and fever. This can happen not only because of teething, but also because the baby’s immune system is still very weak and they can easily catch an infection.
The order in which teeth appear
- The lower center incisors – are the first to appear, usually around six to seven months.
- The upper center incisors – appear next, a couple of months later.
- The upper lateral incisors – appear at around nine months.
- The lower lateral incisors – appear a couple of months later.
- The upper first molars – appear at around 12 to 15 months.
- The lower first molars – appear a couple of months after the upper molars.
- Canines – appear at around 18 months.
- The second molars – appear at 20 to 30 months.
- A full set of 20 baby teeth, 10 on top and 10 on the bottom, is typically formed by 2.5 years old.
Milk teeth do not last long. They can start falling out as early as 5 years old. Don’t panic if your little one’s first teeth haven’t appeared on schedule. This happens to every 4th child. However, if there are no teeth by the age of 1, consult a dentist and get a radiograph. Sometimes, it happens that a child’s tooth buds have not developed.
What care do milk teeth need?
It’s worth starting to teach your little one about oral hygiene practically from the first tooth. Gentle massaging movements with a soft brush will provide quality regular massage and help facilitate the process.
You only need a small amount of toothpaste, pea-sized drops are sufficient. And don’t worry if your little troublemaker swallows the paste, as long as it’s child-friendly, there’s nothing to worry about.
Remember to regularly show your child to the dentist. Don’t think that problems with milk teeth will disappear when they fall out. If milk teeth are neglected, it can not only ruin the oral cavity for life but also lead to additional problems with digestion and many other unpleasant consequences.
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