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Your Child's Mouth
When infants are born, almost all of their primary (baby) teeth already have formed, although they are still hidden in the gums. These teeth typically begin to erupt or cut through the gums when the baby is about 6 months old. Of course, your baby may begin teething a little earlier or a little later than this. That's OK. All children develop at their own pace, and your 1-year-old may have a different number of teeth than your neighbor's 1-year-old. Usually the first baby teeth to erupt are the two bottom front teeth. Next come the top four front teeth and two more bottom teeth. From here, teeth slowly begin to fill the mouth, usually two at a time on either side of the jaw. Your child should have all 20 primary teeth by the time he or she is 36 months old. Your child's primary teeth typically will have spaces between them. Because there is a difference between the size of the permanent and primary teeth, these spaces help ensure there will be enough room for adult teeth. Spaces also make it easier to clean between your child's teeth.
Although baby teeth eventually fall out, they are just as important as permanent teeth. Baby or primary teeth:
That is why it's vital that you take good care of your child's baby teeth. You should start using a toothbrush twice a day once your baby has four teeth in a row, either on the top or bottom. Choose a soft toothbrush with polished, nylon bristles. You can make it even softer by soaking it in warm water for a few minutes. Use a pea-sized amount of children's fluoride toothpaste on the toothbrush, or use just water. Remember, your child will tend to swallow toothpaste, not spit it out. Swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste can lead to cosmetic problems (fluorosis) in the permanent teeth. Keep wiping the toothless gum areas with gauze or a washcloth. Be sure to floss your child's teeth once a day as soon as two teeth touch each other. Talk to your pediatrician or dentist about your child's fluoride needs. If your child drinks water that isn't fluoridated, he or she may need to receive fluoride treatments or take fluoride supplements. At some point, your child probably will want to try brushing, too. It's OK to give him or her a turn as long as you remember that you're the person in charge of keeping your child's teeth clean. He or she won't have the coordination or dexterity to do it well until he or she is 6 to 8 years old. Even then, it's important that you inspect your child's teeth each time your child brushes. Go over them yourself for good measure.
Baby-bottle tooth decay is a serious form of cavities that can quickly destroy your baby's teeth. This condition can be prevented. It can happen when your baby's teeth are exposed to sugars from carbohydrates for long periods of time. When a liquid that contain carbohydrates, such as fruit juice and milk, is allowed to sit in the mouth, bacteria start feeding on the sugars. In the process, the bacteria produce acids, which cause teeth to decay if they remain in the mouth long enough. This can happen if your baby is often:
Human breast milk does not promote decay unless it is given with other sources of carbohydrates. Infants who get a mixed diet are at risk of decay. It's not just what your baby is drinking, but how often. The more time your child has liquids other than water in his or her mouth, the higher the risk of serious decay. This is why it is dangerous to let your baby go to sleep with a bottle or use a bottle as a pacifier during the day. The teeth most often affected by baby-bottle tooth decay are the upper front teeth, although others can decay, too. Your dentist or pediatrician may refer to baby-bottle tooth decay as early childhood caries (cavities), nursing caries or nursing-bottle syndrome. These terms all mean the same thing. Baby-bottle tooth decay can occur only if your baby's mouth has a type of bacteria called Streptococcus mutans. While S. mutans constitutes less than 1% of the oral bacteria in children with very little decay, it accounts for more than 50% in children with early childhood caries. S. mutans is common and is passed from parent to child, usually when a child is between 6 and 31 months old. This period is called the "window of infectivity." Keeping your own mouth healthy and decay-free will help your child stay cavity-free. In baby-bottle tooth decay, the top incisors typically are affected first. Often, decay occurs on the back, or tongue side of the tooth, which can't be seen easily. The top teeth in the back of the mouth are affected next, then the bottom back teeth. The lower incisors usually do not become involved because the tongue lies over them and keeps liquid away from the bacteria on these teeth. Decayed teeth that are left untreated can cause pain and infection. These may require extensive and complex treatment to be saved. Teeth that are very badly decayed may need to be removed to eliminate the infection, decrease the risk of infection spreading to the face, and allow the permanent teeth to develop in an infection-free environment. Any type of liquid that contain carbohydrates can cause baby-bottle tooth decay if it remains around the teeth too long. This includes formula, milk, fruit juice, fruit juice diluted with water, sugar water or any other sweet drink. Milk breaks down into simple sugars, which are food for bacteria. Water is the only liquid that is OK for your child to have in his or her mouth for long periods of time. Here are some tips on preventing baby-bottle tooth decay:
Sometime around your child's 6th or 7th birthday, he or she will begin losing baby teeth, and adult or permanent teeth will begin to move in. It may be fine if this process starts in your child earlier or later. Each child has his or her own timetable set by heredity. Symmetry, or the order that your child's teeth come in, is more important than when they come in. Most often, the first permanent teeth to emerge into the mouth are the lower central incisors. However, in some children, the first permanent molars (sometimes called the 6-year molars) are the first to emerge. Since 32 permanent teeth replace 20 primary (baby) teeth, the permanent molars farthest back in the mouth emerge in back of the primary teeth and do not replace primary teeth. The primary molars are replaced by permanent premolars, also called bicuspids. The primary incisors and canines are replaced by permanent incisors and canines. By the time your child is 13 years old, most of his or her permanent teeth will be in place. Wisdom teeth, or third molars, come in between ages 17 and 21. However, not everyone develops every wisdom tooth. Some people don't get any. More often, wisdom teeth develop, but they may not be in the proper position to emerge through the gums, or there is no room in the mouth for them to erupt.
Until your child is between 6 and 8 years old, you should continue to help him or her brush at least twice a day — once in the morning and once before bed. It's very important to keep your child's teeth free of food particles, especially the molars. Molars have lots of little grooves and crevices where food particles can hide. The easiest way to help your child brush is to cradle his or her head in your one arm, while keeping your other hand free for brushing. Once children have the coordination and dexterity, they can brush on their own. However, be sure to inspect after each brushing and go over spots he or she may have missed. A few other tips:
What your child eats is important for healthy teeth, but it's just as important to be careful about when and how often your child eats. A balanced diet is important for long-term dental health — teeth that grow properly and healthy gums. When and how often your child eats can have more immediate effects. Cavities can develop when carbohydrate foods are allowed to stay in the mouth or on the teeth for a long time. Bacteria that live in the mouth feast on these food particles and create an acid that eats away at tooth enamel. Time between meals allows saliva to wash away the acid. Frequent snacking keeps the mouth acidic and decay-prone. When most people think of sugar, they think of table sugar or sucrose, which is found in candy and baked goods. But all foods containing carbohydrates ultimately break down into simple sugars. Research shows that bacteria do not care which type of sugar it is. They like pretzels and potato chips almost as much as lollipops. Here are a few tips for snacking and mealtime:
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| Last updated July 14, 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
© 2002-2008 Aetna, Inc. All rights reserved. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen. Use of this online service is subject to the disclaimer and the terms and conditions. External website links provided on this site are meant for convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement. These external links open in a different window.