An exciting milestone in your child’s life is when their first tooth erupts. The structures coming in are known as primary (or baby) teeth, but they are crucial for helping with chewing and speaking. Their growing smile is starting to take shape, but they will also eventually fall out to make room for the permanent ones. Here’s a quick guide to help you feel more prepared when you should expect your loved one’s teeth to come in and out, plus how their pediatric dentist is here to help if there are any problems.
When Do Baby Teeth Start to Erupt?
Although every child is different, the first tooth begins to appear around six to ten months of age. It’s usually the bottom front teeth, but the rest will soon start to follow suit. They typically erupt in pairs, and this marks the start of teething.
Afterwards, the upper front ones come in, then the ones next to them. The canines appear around the toddler stage, and the molars come in last around age three. By this time, most children will have their full set of 20 primary teeth.
When Will My Child’s Baby Teeth Fall Out?
It’s not until age six that your child’s teeth may start to fall out. The same ones that came in initially are the first ones to go. Over the next several years, the rest will start to become loose and get replaced by their adult teeth. Usually, they are all in by their early teens, and they will have 28 permanent teeth in place. There are still four molars (their wisdom teeth) that may come in later, but that’s not until the late teen years or early 20s.
What Can I Do to Help Protect My Child’s Growing Smile?
While baby teeth aren’t around for a long time, they are still an important part of your child’s oral development. They will help them eat, speak, and guide the permanent structures in place. You should help your loved one take good care of them, simply by brushing them with fluoride toothpaste while at home.
You should also have consistent checkups with their pediatric dentist as soon as their first tooth erupts or by their first birthday at least. Doing so will help you get a better understanding of your loved one’s smile and whether there are any problems at all.
While these structures may come in or fall out sooner or later than expected, if it’s too far from what’s considered normal, then their provider can make sure there aren’t any problems. That way, you can feel confident helping your loved one throughout the teething process.
About the Practice
At Castle Rock Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, your child benefits from the compassionate leadership of Dr. Layne Benzley and Dr. Alex Sherman. We are dedicated to helping kids in the local community build a happy relationship with their grin. By offering a wide range of treatments, such as extractions, we can make sure their oral health stays strong while they grow up. If you have any questions you want to clear up about your loved one’s smile, schedule an appointment or call our office at (303) 660-5373.