Family Dentist in Brick, NJ Discusses Baby Teeth

Baby teeth are good for a lot more than getting a buck or two from the tooth fairy! They are vital not only to a child's health and well-being, but also to their future dental health. As such they need to be taken care of from the time they emerge. Here are some facts about these amazing teeth:

 

· A baby is born with all twenty primary teeth already formed in their jaw, and 1 in every 3000 babies are born with a tooth already grown in,

 

· Teething happens on a different schedule for every individual, but the first tooth usually comes in at six to ten months, and the whole set is usually present by the time the child is three years old.

 

· Drooling is actually important for teething, because it keeps the gums moist and reduces inflammation.

 

· When a child loses their baby teeth also varies, but they typically lose their front teeth between six and eight years old, and the back teeth (canines and molars) between nine and thirteen.

 

· Baby teeth help keep spaces open for the adult teeth that come in later, which is important for the health of those teeth.

 

· Chewing with baby teeth helps a child's jaw muscles develop properly.

 

· Because baby teeth are necessary for proper chewing, they are vital to a child's digestion and nutrition.

 

· Baby teeth also help a child learn proper speech sounds for language development.

 

· While all children have 20 baby teeth, every mouth is different, and the teeth can sometimes look strange to an adult. It is not uncommon, for instance, for baby teeth to appear two-headed or even fang-like.

 

Baby teeth are anything but frivolous! They are an important part of a child's development, and should be taken care of from the time they emerge to the time they fall out. Make sure to brush your child's teeth and take them to your family dentist in Brick, NJ once their first tooth emerges, or before their first birthday. Taking care of baby teeth today sets the stage for healthy adult teeth tomorrow.

 

Click here to request an appointment with Pulido Dental Care, or give the office a call at (732) 477-7272,