Well before teething begins, your child’s teeth begin developing. And your child’s teeth go through stages as their body changes and grows.
Taking care of your child’s dental needs and teaching them to do the same as they mature can go a long way toward ensuring strong oral health and hygiene practices throughout their life.
At Perfect Smiles Dental of Pleasant Hill, California, Dr. Nupur Gupta and her team are honored to play a positive role in your young one’s dental health.
Take a few moments to learn about the different stages of childhood tooth development.
The earliest stage
Your child’s teeth start developing before they’re born. About six weeks after conception, the basic substance of the teeth form.
This is one of the reasons that healthy eating habits are important during pregnancy, so that your baby’s teeth can benefit from essential nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D.
It’s also why you should avoid particular medications during pregnancy. The antibiotic tetracycline, for example, can weaken enamel and make way for decay.
The mid-gestation stage and teething
About 3-4 months into gestation, enamel, the hard tissue that protects your child’s teeth, develops. So strong, enamel is considered the hardest mineral substance in the body. It’s even sturdier than bone.
Once your baby is born, you can expect teething to begin within about 4-7 months. But if your child’s teeth start emerging a bit later, that’s not cause for alarm. Each baby’s timeline is unique.
Just before teeth start cropping up above the gumline, you may notice these signs:
- Changed eating or sleeping patterns
- Crying and fussiness
- Drooling, which can lead to a facial rash
- Swollen, tender gums
- A slightly raised temperature
- Wanting to chew on hard objects
The primary teeth stage
Your child’s primary teeth, or baby teeth, will likely all break through by 33 months, or when your child is nearing age 3. The first tooth you’ll likely see will be the front, middle tooth on the lower jaw followed by a neighboring tooth.
Then, the four upper teeth above them typically show up. The first four molars and then remaining teeth typically appear after that, ending with the second four molars by age 2.
The permanent teeth stage
Many children start leaving a tooth out for the tooth fairy around age 6. In most cases, one of the front, center teeth falls out first. This stage crosses over with the primary teeth stage, with the first molars erupting after the first baby teeth are lost.
The last baby tooth usually falls out around age 12. When all is said and done, your child will have 32 permanent teeth.
Taking care of your child’s teeth
From infancy on, it’s important to take care of your child’s teeth. At Perfect Smiles Dental, we recommend routine dental exams starting early on to check for signs of problems before anything serious unfolds.
We can also work with you and your child to ensure that they know how to care for their own teeth, as they’re able.
To learn more about children’s teeth development or to get the care your family needs, call Perfect Smiles Dental in Pleasant Hill, California, or request an appointment through this website.