Eruption of Your Child’s Teeth
Maintaining a good oral health is a lifelong commitment. The journey begins with the primary teeth nesting beneath the child’s gums during the fourth month of pregnancy. Hence, following a healthy prenatal diet is utmost important as they aid in the development of the child’s strong teeth, gums, and bone. At birth, the crowns of 20 primary teeth are almost completely formed which are invisible as they are hidden from view in an infant’s jawbone.
Almost every child sees a similar developmental timeline when it comes to the eruption of primary teeth. Primary teeth are also known as deciduous teeth and baby teeth. While it may seem challenging to care for the teeth of fussy infants and restless toddlers, your child will reap rewards when you put in the right efforts to maintain a healthy mouth, gums, and teeth.
Understanding Primary Dentition
Generally, your child’s first primary tooth erupts between the ages six months to one year. By the time the child is three, he/she will have a full set of twenty primary teeth. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends parents to make a “well-baby” appointment with your pediatric dentist after 6 months of your child’s first tooth erupts. It is essential to take proper care of the deciduous teeth to prevent tooth decay, malnutrition, premature tooth loss, and childhood periodontal disease. Dr. Joseph Cheng, DDS., located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, walks you through the preventive strategies, emphasizes the importance of sound and an everyday home care plan.
Importance of Primary Teeth
Although primary teeth or deciduous teeth are temporary, they play a pivotal role to help in the following:
- Proper jaw development
- Facilitate speech production
- Good chewing habits
- Proper spacing and alignment of adult teeth
Order of Primary Teeth Eruption
Upper Teeth | Erupt | Shed |
Central Incisor | 8-12 Months | 6-7 Years |
Lateral Incisor | 9-13 Months | 7-8 Years |
Canine | 6-22 Months | 10-12 Years |
First Molar | 13-19 Months | 9-11 Years |
Second Molar | 25-33 Months | 10-12 Years |
Lower Teeth | Erupt | Shed |
Central Incisor | 6-10 Months | 6-7 Years |
Lateral Incisor | 10-16 Months | 7-8 Years |
Canine | 17-23 Months | 9-12 Years |
First Molar | 14-18 Months | 9-11 Years |
Second Molar | 23-31 Months | 10-12 Years |
More Facts about Tooth Eruption
Teething makes exhausting for parents as they have to see many sleepless nights. Below are some facts about the emergence of primary dentition:
- On average, girl babies get their teeth earlier than the boy babies.
- The teeth in the lower jaw erupt before those in the upper jaw.
- Children living in warmer regions have earlier an eruption of teeth when compared to children living in colder regions.
- As the jaw size is smaller, primary teeth are smaller than the permanent teeth and also have a brighter tone.
- There may be months where no new teeth emerge and months where two or three emerge at once.