Your child’s baby teeth are important to his or her development. These teeth help them chew, speak, and smile. The primary teeth also hold the place for the permanent teeth to grow in. The health of the baby teeth is important because when one is lost too early, the permanent teeth can shift into the space. This can cause the permanent teeth to come in crooked.
The first baby tooth usually erupts at about six months of age. Girls usually begin tooth eruption sooner than boys. The lower teeth usually erupt before the upper teeth. The baby teeth usually erupt in pairs, one on the right and one on the left. By the time your child turns two or three years old, all of their baby teeth should have come in. Keep in mind that the primary teeth are smaller and whiter than the permanent teeth that will come later.
It is important that you take care of your baby’s teeth and gums. Before their teeth come in, clean your baby’s gums with a soft, moistened washcloth or a piece of gauze at least two times every day. Make sure to wipe your baby’s gums after they eat and before bedtime. When your baby’s teeth begin go grow in, use a toothbrush with soft bristles, a small head, and a large handle to brush his or her tooth or teeth. As soon as the teeth erupt, use a small amount of toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice, to clean his or her teeth. Increase the toothpaste amount to about the size of a pea when he or she is about three years old. Brush your child’s teeth until he or she is old enough to hold their toothbrush and brush their teeth themselves. Supervise your child’s oral hygiene until he or she can rinse and spit without help.
For more information about baby teeth in Timonium, Maryland, and to schedule an appointment with our pediatric dentists, Drs. Bowden, Bowden, and Hernandez, contact Kids First Pediatric Dentistry at 410-828-5699 today. We are excited to get to know you and your family!