Baby Teeth: When They Erupt And The Basics Of Caring For Them

Baby teeth are also known as the Primary Teeth. They can start as early as 4 months to erupt but the average eruption of baby teeth is as stated below. Primary teeth are our first teeth and start to fall out around ages 5 – 8. Our Pernament teeth replace them. While the average timing of their eruption is stated below, babies may have an individual schedule. Some babies get them earlier than is noted here and some get them later.

The Upper Baby Teeth:

The central incisors are those right in the middle and they will erupt from 8 month of age to 13 months. The lateral incisors are the teeth on either side of the central incisors and they erupt during the same time period. The Canines are behind the Lateral Incisors on either side of the mouth and they erupt between 16 months and 23 months. The first molars are behind the Canines and they erupt between 13 months of age and 19 months. Last to erupt are the Second Molars which are the furthest back. They erupt between 13 months and 19 months of age.

The Lower Baby Teeth

The Central Incisors are in the middle and they erupt from 6 month of age to 10 months. The Lateral Incisors are behind the Central Incisors and erupt from 10 months of age and 16 months. The Canines are behind those and erupt from 16 months to 23 months of age. The First Molars erupt between 13 months and 19 months and are located benind the Canines. The Second Molars erupt between 23 months and 31 months and are the last teeth all the way in the back.

Care Of Baby Teeth

Babies need teeth because they help the baby to chew food, and to form sounds and words. Teeth are also needed because they can affect the way your baby's jaw grows.

As the teeth erupt the baby will drool. Teething is usually painless, but it can make some babies a little uncomfortable or fussy. Some tips to help relieve your baby's tender gums are:

Let your baby suck on a cold washcloth

cold teething ring

Limit uses of teething gels as too much ingestion of gels is not good

Teething should not cause a fever, if the baby develops a fever you should notify the pediatrician.

How Do Breastfeeding, baby bottles and Sippy cups affect Baby Teeth?

Breastfeeding is good for your baby's teeth as there is normally no prolonged usage. Unlike breastfeeding the bottle can be left in the mouth for prolonged periods of time. Leaving the bottle in the mouth will cause pools of milk or formula to stay in the baby's mouth. Juice that contains sugar is also bad to give a baby in a bottle for the same reason. Sippy cups become dangerous to the baby teeth if a toddler is allowed to walk around with it. If the toddler falls while the sippy cup is in the mouth a baby tooth can be knocked loose.

Cleaning Baby Teeth

Baby teeth can be cleaned with plain clean water or you can use a soft baby toothbrush with only a dab (size of a piece of rice). You should be gentle and follow your child's dentist advice as to which toothpaste to use.

First Dentist Visit

Bring your baby to the dentist for the first time by his or her first birthday. This initial visit is to get your child used to the dentist and the dental environment. The dentist will examine your baby's mouth for any obvious signs of problems including cavities.