It’s never too early to start thinking about your child’s oral health, especially if baby teeth are starting to emerge. These tiny teeth aren’t just there to help your child chew solid foods; they are a vital part of growing up and require the utmost care. In fact, overlooking baby teeth can lead to disastrous consequences for your child’s smile. So how do you care for your child’s baby teeth and prevent bigger issues later on? Start by educating yourself on the following:

• Why we have baby teeth
• Why baby teeth need to be taken care of
• How to tell when a baby is teething
• Primary teeth timelines
• How to care for your child’s baby teeth
• How to help your child transition from baby to adult teeth

As a pediatric dental practice, we’ve cared for countless baby teeth and strive to share our knowledge on the subject with parents of young children everywhere. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about baby teeth:

Why We Have Baby Teeth

So, “Why do we have baby teeth when we’re just going to lose them?” Precisely because we are going to lose them. A full set of adult teeth in a six-month-old mouth wouldn’t do much good for an infant that isn’t even eating solids yet. Not to mention that children’s mouths simply don’t have room for all their adult teeth. But they still need a way to chew their food, save space for adult teeth, and talk clearly.

This is where baby teeth, also known as primary or milk teeth, come in. These teeth are smaller than adult teeth so they can comfortably fit in your child’s mouth. They also prepare your child’s mouth for adult teeth by making room in their mouth for the larger teeth to come in. Once the adult teeth are ready, the baby teeth will fall out. However, this doesn’t mean they should be ignored. From their first appearance to their last bite, primary teeth should be cared for.

Why Baby Teeth Need to Be Taken Care Of

Just because baby teeth fall out doesn’t mean they don’t need to be cared for. Just like with adult teeth, lack of proper brushing, flossing, and regular cleaning can lead to cavities. Not only can this make is painful for children to use their teeth, but they can also affect adult teeth if left untreated. For example, if a cavity gets too infected, it must be removed. Since your child’s mouth is still growing, the other teeth will shift to fill this new gap. As a result, their adult teeth have nowhere to come in. This can lead to expensive dental and orthodontic treatments that could have been easily avoided. Remember, as soon as your child’s primary teeth come in, you should be taking care of them and eventually teaching your little one to do the same.

How to Tell When a Baby is Teething

Babies may not have any visible teeth when they are first born, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. In fact, baby teeth start developing before birth, so the teeth are ready to break through your child’s gums. Generally speaking, milk teeth start erupting between six to twelve months of age. With such a wide range of time, it’s important for parents to know how to spot signs of teething so they can help their child through it. The most common signs include:

• Irritability
• Disturbed sleep
• Increased drooling
• Trying to chew on objects
• Swollen and bleeding gums

No parent likes to see their child in pain, so teething can be a particularly stressful time for everyone involved. However, there are steps you can take to ease the pain of teething such as giving your child a cool washcloth to chew on, gently massaging their gums, or distracting them with their favorite toy or activity. Just as it’s important to care for your child’s first tooth, it is equally important to care for every baby tooth that follows.

Primary Teeth Timelines

Baby teeth don’t all come in at the same time; they also don’t all fall out at once. For parents keeping an eye out for teeth issues, it can be helpful to know what an average teething timeline is, so you don’t have to constantly worry if your child’s teething developments are on track.

Bottom Teeth

• Central incisors erupt between 6-10 months and fall out between 6-7 years.
• Lateral incisors erupt between 10-16 months and fall out between 7-8 years.
• First molar erupts between 14-18 months and falls out between 9-11 years.
• Canines erupt between 17-23 months and fall out between 9-12 years.
• Second molar erupts between 23-31 months and falls out between 10-12 years.

Top Teeth

• Central incisors erupt between 6-10 months and fall out between 6-7 years.
• Lateral incisors erupt between 10-16 months and fall out between 7-8 years.
• First molar erupts between 14-18 months and falls out between 9-11 years.
• Canines come in between 17-23 months and fall out between 9-12 years.
• Second molar erupts between 23-31 months and falls out between 10-12 years.

How to Care for Your Child’s Baby Teeth

Just because primary teeth are meant to fall out, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep an eye out for teeth issues. For example, if left untreated, cavities can be painful for your child and even require the tooth to be removed. And if a baby tooth is removed prematurely, the other teeth may shift into the new gap, making it difficult for adult teeth to come in properly. This is painful for your child and expensive for you. Luckily, there are plenty of ways you can care for your child’s baby teeth and prevent teeth issues.

Start Brushing Early

Most baby teeth start coming in at around six months of age. As soon as your child’s first tooth comes in, start brushing it twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a grain-of-rice-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste. Be gentle but be sure to cover all sides of the new tooth. This gets your child used to oral hygiene early on and keeps their baby teeth healthy from the very beginning.

Schedule Their First Dentist Appointment

To ensure your child’s baby teeth stay healthy, schedule their first visit to a pediatric dentist for when they are one year old. This will help your child get used to going to the dentist, as well as provide expert advice on how you can help take care of their teeth. These early visits will also help prevent teeth issues by having a professional semiannually clean and examine your child’s mouth.

Teach Your Child to Brush Properly

All your child’s baby teeth should have come in by the time your child is three years old. Now you can start using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste to clean their teeth. Now that they’re older, explain to them what you are doing and show them how to brush their teeth. They’ll need to brush every part of their baby teeth, gums, and tongue before spitting out their toothpaste. Brushing should last for two minutes and happen twice a day. Continue to supervise your child as they start to brush their baby teeth themselves until they can do so fully on their own.

How to Help Your Child Transition from Baby to Adult Teeth

Children typically start losing their primary teeth around age 6 and will continue to do so until age 12. During this time, be sure to explain that they will lose all their baby teeth to make room for their new adult teeth that they will need to take extra care of since these teeth will stay with them for the rest of their lives. You can help teach them to do this by:

• Making sure your child brushes twice a day with a pea sized smear of fluoride toothpaste
• Showing them how to floss daily between their teeth and into their gum lines
• Limiting sugary foods and drinks to reduce chances of cavities
• Taking your child to the dentist on a regular basis to keep their baby and adult teeth healthy

Some children may find losing their primary teeth stressful, so be sure to tell them that this is a normal part of growing up. You may even plan a small celebration for after your child loses their first tooth or leave age-appropriate gifts from the tooth fairy. This will help your child look forward to losing their teeth, rather than fear the ordeal.

Ready to Protect Your Child’s Smile?

Baby teeth require the same level of care and protection as adult teeth. This means teaching your child good oral hygiene and scheduling regular visits to a pediatric dentist to ensure there are no teeth issues. Whether your child just got or lost their first baby tooth, it’s never too early to start seeing a children’s dentist. Contact LeBlanc & Associates today to schedule an appointment and ensure your child’s milk teeth are healthy and well cared for.

Baby Teeth FAQs

Why are baby teeth so important if they eventually fall out?

Baby teeth play a critical role in chewing, speech development, and guiding adult teeth into the correct position. Healthy primary teeth help prevent spacing problems and other teeth issues later on.

At what age should parents start caring for baby teeth?

Care should begin as soon as the first baby tooth appears. Even milk teeth are vulnerable to cavities, so early brushing and routine care are essential.

Is it normal for baby teeth to come in earlier or later than the timeline?

Yes. Every child is different. A few months early or late is usually normal, but significant delays or asymmetry may point to underlying teeth issues worth evaluating.

Are cavities in baby teeth really a big deal?

Absolutely. Cavities in primary teeth can cause pain, infection, and damage to developing adult teeth underneath. Untreated decay is one of the most common teeth issues we see.

How many baby teeth does a child have?

Children typically have 20 baby teeth, also called primary or milk teeth, which begin to appear around six months of age.

When do adult teeth usually start coming in?

Most children begin losing baby teeth and getting adult teeth around age six, although the timing can vary from child to child.

Should baby teeth be flossed?

Yes. Once baby teeth start touching each other, flossing helps remove plaque and food particles that brushing alone cannot reach.

How much toothpaste should my child use on baby teeth?

For infants and toddlers, use a grain-of-rice-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste. Once your child can spit reliably, a pea-sized amount is appropriate.

What are common teeth issues seen in young children?

Common teeth issues include cavities, early tooth loss, thumb-sucking-related bite changes, and delayed eruption of baby or adult teeth.

How often should children with baby teeth see a pediatric dentist?

Children should visit a pediatric dentist every six months to monitor baby teeth, catch teeth issues early, and build positive dental habits.