Your newborn baby has about 20 teeth that are almost fully formed beneath the gums and hidden in the jawbone. The first tooth usually erupts in six months, and it is a definite cause for celebration. New baby teeth are a milestone for your child, and the primary or baby teeth will continue to come in for the next two and a half years. Learn more about your baby’s dental health from your Pediatric Dentist Kailua.
How Baby Teeth Emerge
Usually the two front teeth on the top and bottom come in first when your baby is about six months. As the teeth slowly erupt over the next three years or so, the jawbone also grows and makes room for newly growing teeth. The American Dental Association recommends that a baby should have their first Aikahi Dental appointment after their first tooth erupts or up to one year of age.
As the jawbone continues to expand and prepare for the permanent teeth, your child will begin to shed the baby teeth at about six to seven years old. Children continue to lose the primary teeth to the secondary or adult teeth until they are about 12 years old.
Baby Teeth are Important
As your child discover new foods, explores textures and learns how to speak, the baby teeth are an important part of completing these milestones in your child’s growth and development. Baby teeth also prepare the jawbone for the emergence of adult teeth by holding a place for them and setting the stage.
Your baby’s teeth are just as susceptible to decay and dental caries as adult teeth and require the same care. Brush your baby’s teeth with a toothbrush designed for children and use tepid water to keep them clean. Toothpaste should only be used for children that are old enough to spit it out and not swallow it. Your Pediatric Dentist Kailua suggests that you make tooth brushing fun to give your child a gift of good dental hygiene for a lifetime.
Reduce the Risk of Tooth Decay
There are steps you can take to protect your baby’s primary teeth. Never dip your child’s pacifier in a sweet liquid or allow them to sleep with a bottle filled with milk, formula or a sugar sweetened beverage. For more information about your child’s dental health, Visit Aikahidental.com.
