Seeing your child grow before your eyes is an indescribable feeling – watching them pass milestone after milestone can’t help but make you feel proud and fulfilled. That said, there may be one milestone that tugs at your heartstrings more than others: teething. Continue reading to learn more about teething and the importance of these baby teeth, along with some ways you can ensure they remain healthy, and your child can navigate their uncomfortable arrival.
A Closer Look at Baby Teeth
The baby teeth refer to the first set of teeth that all of us have while we’re growing up! These teeth begin emerging around 6 months of age in a process commonly called teething, which usually continues until the 3-year mark. Typically, the first teeth to erupt are the bottom front teeth, and children have 20 in total that slowly emerge during this period.
Between the ages of 6 and 12, children begin to have a combination of baby teeth and adult teeth, which forces the baby teeth to fall out as they make way in. Assuming the baby teeth are healthy, they assist with making sure the adult teeth emerge in the correct positions with no problems like cavities.
Tips for Caring for Baby Teeth
Although they’re destined to fall out in due time, you should still make an effort to help your child take great care of their baby teeth; doing so will help them develop positive hygiene habits and set them up for lasting dental health! Here are some tips to help with this:
- Oral hygiene begins even before the first tooth arrives! Plus, baby teeth have weaker enamel than adult teeth, making them more vulnerable to cavities. You can gently clean your child’s gums after feeding sessions using a clean, damp cloth. When they have teeth, you can begin brushing them with a toothbrush designed for infants, coupled with a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste.
- Be sure that your child attends their first dental visit no later than their first birthday; this allows their provider to begin keeping early tabs on their dental health and ensuring there are no present problems that might worsen.
- If your child is teething, you can help soothe their discomfort by providing them with a teething toy or soft, chilled foods. Teething toys provide soothing counterpressure to your child’s gums and take their mind off their discomfort.
It doesn’t take much on your part to ensure that your child’s baby teeth are healthy and developing properly – and by doing so, you’re helping to set them up for a lifetime of bright, happy smiling!
About the Practice
Under the leadership of Dr. Hyun Jeong Lee, Dr. Moe Beydoun, and Dr. Christina Helfrich, our talented team here at Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics has served the dental needs of families in New Britain and the surrounding areas for several years. We’re proud to offer a wide variety of services, including gentle dental care for infants from our board-certified pediatric dentist. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with us to schedule an appointment for your child, please reach out online or call today for more information. Telephone: (860) 356-3727.