The First Teeth

Dental Health

During the first few years of life, all 20 of the first teeth, or primary teeth, will erupt through the gums. There will be 10 teeth on the top and 10 teeth on the bottom. Usually the first teeth to come through are on the lower jaw in the front. These teeth begin to come up between 4 and 7 months of age and are all in between 2 and 3 years. As they begin to erupt, brush them with a soft bristled toothbrush and a little bit of water. This helps to avoid tooth decay.

Both your baby’s primary and permanent teeth begin to develop underneath the gums long before birth, during the first trimester of pregnancy. A mother should avoid using the antibiotic tetracycline during this time when baby’s teeth are developing. As your child’s teeth continue to develop throughout childhood, avoid giving her tetracycline because it can cause permanent brown to grey stains on their developing teeth.

The first baby teeth to begin to fall out will be the front teeth on the lower jaw. At the age of 6 your child’s first permanent teeth will begin to erupt. These teeth are your child’s first permanent molars. There will be two on the top and two on the bottom. All of your child’s baby teeth will have fallen out and have been replaced by permanent teeth by 12 to 13 years of age. It is important to take good care of your child’s baby teeth so they will stay in her mouth as long as they are needed. Although they will eventually fall out, your child needs them not only to eat, but to help guide the permanent teeth to erupt in the right places.

Parents may mistakenly think that all permanent teeth erupt in place of a baby tooth falling out. While this is true for most teeth, it is not true for these permanent molars. They erupt farther back in the mouth than the last baby tooth. One way to know if permanent teeth have erupted in your child’s mouth is to count the teeth. If there are more than 10 teeth on the top and 10 teeth on the bottom, your child has begun their mixed dentition.  It is important to watch for these teeth and make sure they are well taken care of. These are the teeth your child will need for the rest of their life. One way to prevent tooth decay in these teeth is to place sealants on them shortly after they erupt. It is always important to brush, floss and visit a dentist regularly.

Links about the First Teeth

Caring for Teeth
American Family Physician—http://www.aafp.org/afp/20041201/2113.html
Family Doctor—http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/kidshealthy/healthy-choice/834.html
Family Doctor—http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/prevention/100.html
KidsHealth—http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/body_basics/mouth_teeth.html
Utah Department of Health—http://health.utah.gov/oralhealth/

Teething
American Dental Association—http://www.ada.org/public/topics/teething.asp
KidsHealth—http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/teeth/teething.html

Tooth Eruption Chart
American Dental Association—http://www.ada.org/public/topics/tooth_eruption.asp