We start in the world with 20 tiny teeth and end up with 32 larger ones. Why do we have baby teeth? Why not just start with the same ones we end up with? Which ones will your child lose first, and when?
It is important to know about your child’s baby teeth, or “milk teeth,” and how to care for them properly. Because your child will lose these baby teeth, you may think they don’t need the same care as permanent teeth.
That’s not the case! Beavers and Broomfield Family Dentistry cares for teeth of all ages. We can help you understand what baby teeth are, when they should be checked by a pediatric dentist, when and why they fall out, and why caring for them is essential until they do.
Why Do We Have Baby Teeth?
Is a baby born with all the teeth in their skull? If not, when do the permanent teeth develop? When do baby teeth start falling out? These are some of the questions we get about baby teeth.
Babies are born with 20 primary teeth, which start erupting about six months of age. Those teeth are placeholders for the permanent teeth, which begin developing after the baby teeth erupt.
Why do humans have baby teeth? Why not start with the permanent teeth? Your jaws simply aren’t big enough to accommodate all 32 permanent teeth, so the baby teeth hold the place until the jaw has grown large enough.
Baby teeth erupt until the child is about three years old.
When Do Baby Teeth Fall Out?
While your child is busy using those cute baby teeth, your child’s jaws are developing new permanent teeth. Those teeth are built to be stronger, bigger, and more capable of chewing food properly for easy digestion. They will last the rest of your life if cared for properly.
When the permanent teeth are ready, the baby teeth loosen from their roots. This allows the tooth to fall out and make space for the permanent tooth underneath, which should erupt soon after.
Your child will likely start losing their baby teeth around six years of age. They tend to fall out in the same order in which they erupted, so your child will first lose their incisors (front teeth). The incisors will come in fairly quickly, but the rest of the teeth will take time to come out. As they do, the permanent teeth replace them.
Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars added to the two sets of baby teeth molars. They erupt between ages 17 and 21.
Nearly a quarter of today’s population develops only 1-3 of the four wisdom teeth. Almost 35% of the world’s population has no wisdom teeth. So it’s okay if your child only has 28 of the 32 teeth. They’ll do just fine without them.
Why Do They Call Baby Teeth Milk Teeth?
You may have heard the term and wondered, “What are milk teeth?” It’s not a common phrase here in the United States. It’s more common in Europe and elsewhere overseas. We usually just call milk teeth baby teeth.
Why are they called milk teeth? It’s because they usually come in while the child’s diet is still mostly their mother’s milk, not because of their milky color.
‘Deciduous teeth’ is a more technical term for baby teeth because they shed. You might also hear them referred to as ‘primary teeth,’ which means “first” teeth.
Here’s a bit of toothy trivia: Did you know there is one type of tooth that isn’t temporary but is permanent?
It’s your premolars! The premolars replace the baby molars, and the permanent molars come in behind the premolars.
What If My Child Gets a Cavity in Baby Teeth?
It’s just as important to care for baby teeth as it is to care for adult teeth. While your child will shed their incisors rather quickly, losing the back teeth will take several years. Cavities can become painful and lead to tooth decay if left untreated.
Untreated cavities can also lead to loss of the tooth. If the tooth falls out prematurely, the other teeth could move into the space where the permanent tooth is supposed to go. Without this space, the tooth could erupt in front of or behind the other teeth. This is tooth crowding, and it often requires orthodontic treatment to fix.
It’s also important to teach your child good oral hygiene habits at a young age to prevent tooth decay and other dental problems. The better they stick to those habits as a kid, the better they’ll stick to them throughout their lives. That means they’ll be able to enjoy their beautiful, natural smile longer and hopefully for the rest of their lives.
When Should My Child Have Their First Dentist Visit?
Should you wait for your child’s permanent teeth to start coming in to see a dentist? No. Your child should see a dentist by the time the first tooth erupts. After that, you and your child should visit the dentist at least twice a year for a checkup and cleaning.
Beavers and Broomfield Family Dentistry want to start your child on a path of a lifetime of great oral health. What can you expect on your first visit?
We begin by taking dental x-rays and images of your child’s mouth to ensure the baby teeth are ready to erupt and the permanent ones are developing in the jaw properly. We will also help teach your child how to brush and floss their teeth properly. We want to start your time on a journey of great oral health!
Baby Teeth Care in Fayetteville, AR
Baby teeth may not last long, but they are vital to your oral health and overall health. The sooner you get your child started with proper dental care, the better off your child’s teeth will be. Schedule an appointment in Fayetteville, AR, with Beavers and Broomfield Family Dentistry, and let us help your child learn how to care for those adorable baby teeth. Take care of those baby teeth, and you’ll enjoy those pearly whites for a lifetime!
