What to do when a child’s first teeth appear?

The formation of teeth is a complex step-by-step process that begins in the first weeks of intrauterine life. Thus, by the time of birth, the baby has the rudiments of 20 primary and 16 permanent teeth inside each jaw. But, like all stages of development, teething in children under one year and older occurs differently. Some endure this period relatively calmly, others are capricious and sleep poorly. Why this happens and how to understand that the baby is cutting teeth, we will tell you further.

Timing of teething in children

On average, the first teeth in healthy children appear at 5–6 months. But sometimes it happens that someone has a white bump visible at 4 months, and someone smiles with a toothless mouth even at 8-12 months. And this is not a deviation from the norm. According to studies by a number of authors, the timing differs depending on the region of residence, race, and gender of the child. For example, children in the southern regions develop teeth a little earlier than those in the north. The formation of temporary teeth is also influenced by the following factors:

• heredity;
• maternal toxicosis in the second and third trimester of pregnancy;
• prematurity;
• artificial feeding;
• quality of drinking water;
• hypothyroidism and other endocrine pathologies;
• infectious diseases;
• weakened immunity;
• rickets.

It is impossible to speed up the timing and influence the sequence of teething in children. The only thing parents can do at this time is to alleviate the baby’s condition if he is restless and in pain (more on this below).

Can a baby cut teeth at such an early age?

The average time for teeth to appear in infants is 6–8 months. The first to grow are the two lower central incisors, which usually erupt one after the other. But you should understand that the time frame is not limited. Sometimes the process may take some time. There are cases when the first incisors appear earlier. Therefore, when asked whether teeth can be cut at two months, experts answer in the affirmative. A deviation of the time frame by several months in both directions is considered normal. Only if a one-year-old child does not have a single tooth should you consult a doctor.

Each organism is individual, so some babies already have their first tooth at 2–3 months. The process is determined not only by genetics, but also by a number of other factors:

• climatic conditions;
• maternal nutrition;
• features of the course of pregnancy;
• disruptions of the endocrine system - sometimes the early appearance of teeth may indicate its abnormalities.

If during pregnancy the mother took multivitamins or additional mineral complexes containing vitamins D and C, then the timing of teething may accelerate. A woman’s consumption of fermented milk products in large quantities also contributes to this.

Subsequence

The order in which teeth appear may vary, which is rare and is not considered pathological. For some boys and girls, the upper incisors appear first, rather than the lower incisors as usual. But basically the sequence of teething in children is as follows (teeth appear in pairs):

• lower central incisors;
• upper central incisors;
• upper lateral incisors;
• lower lateral incisors;
• first upper molars (molars);
• first lower molars;
• upper canines;
• lower canines;
• second lower molars;
• second upper molars.

By the age of 2.5–3 years, the child has a full set of baby teeth: 10 on each jaw. After about 4–6 years, the roots begin to dissolve, the teeth lose support and fall out in the same order in which they erupted.

As the jaw and facial bones grow, spaces form between the primary teeth. This provides space for permanent, larger teeth to emerge, which erupt from 5 to 15 years of age.

First teeth

When to expect

The baby's milk teeth are formed at the 7th–8th week of intrauterine development, and the permanent ones at the end of the 4th month of pregnancy. In total, a child develops 20 baby teeth, while 32 permanent teeth. To provide the baby with a Hollywood smile, the expectant mother needs to eat properly throughout the nine months of pregnancy. There are no calcium preparations that are 100% absorbable, so it is very important to get “natural” calcium from food, especially cottage cheese. And, of course, the pregnant woman herself needs to have all her teeth treated - now there are very gentle technologies for this.

The eruption of the first milk teeth in most cases begins at 3–8 months of the baby’s life and ends closer to three years. But it also happens that children are born with one or two teeth, or teeth may erupt in the first weeks of life. Often the timing of teething depends on genetic characteristics, but much more strongly on other factors. Diseases of the baby also affect the teeth (for example, with rickets, frequent ARVI and dyspepsia, teeth erupt later). It’s worth paying attention to the nature of your diet, the quality of drinking water, even the climate! On average, northern residents start teething a little later than southerners. Sometimes teething is delayed, and the first tooth appears closer to a year. Usually there is nothing wrong with this. It is believed that it is not so much the timing that speaks about a child’s health, but rather the order in which teeth erupt. If it is broken, pay attention to this fact and show the baby to the pediatric dentist.

The process has started

The fact that the teething process has begun is indicated by profuse salivation. In addition, the baby begins to put into his mouth everything that comes to hand. This means that the gums are itchy, causing him discomfort. Trying to relieve the itching, the baby instinctively acts correctly - micromassage of the gums improves microcirculation in them, teeth erupt easier and faster. During this period, provide your child with teethers: hypoallergenic silicone toys filled with water. The teether should not be cooled in the freezer - only in the refrigerator: otherwise the baby will get hurt on a hard surface. If the gums are very swollen and the baby is crying in pain, use special dental gels that have a mild local anesthetic effect.

For most children, the teething process goes quite smoothly. There may be short periods of anxiety, disturbances in daily routine and nutrition. Sometimes even teething is accompanied by diarrhea, runny nose, cough and fever. And during the period when teeth appear, the baby is vulnerable to all kinds of infections. The baby’s immunity is weakening these days, and it is easier for him to “catch” the virus, so you should not attribute the deterioration of the condition only to the teeth. If a child has a fever when a tooth is being cut, you need to look for another inflammatory source in the body.

At 6 months

The baby usually boasts central lower incisors. This is a reason to start brushing your teeth. Why so early? Baby teeth are small and sharp, have an uneven wavy edge, stand close to each other and, as a rule, have a yellowish tint. These teeth have a low degree of mineralization. Their enamel and dentin are very thin. All this contributes to the rapid occurrence and spread of caries. In order to prevent it, you need to regularly brush your teeth: for this you can use various massage brushes, which not only accustom the child to hygiene, but also facilitate the teething process itself. We immediately teach you how to brush your teeth correctly - from the gums to the edges, with slightly “sweeping”, semicircular movements, and in no case horizontally. If possible, brush your teeth after every meal (and at least twice a day). Isn't there such a possibility? Give the baby something to drink - the water will wash away any remaining food.

At 8 months

The upper central incisors usually erupt.
At 9 months,
the upper lateral incisors appear.
At 11 months,
many children's lower lateral incisors are already in place!
By the age of one year, a baby normally already has eight teeth
.
But there may not be any - delayed teething occurs in 25% of cases with normal psychomotor development of the child. In extremely rare cases, the absence of teeth is associated with adentia - the absence of their rudiments. This can be checked by a pediatric dentist using radiovisiography. By 13–15 months,
the upper first molars appear first, followed by the lower ones.

From the age of one year, your baby can brush his teeth with children's toothpaste and a special children's brush. The service life of the brush is no more than 2 months, even if it looks like new. Many kids swallow the tasty pasta. There is no need to be afraid of this if it is for children and its quantity is no more than a pea. Of course, until 2–2.5 years of age, teeth brushing should be done with the help and then under the watchful supervision of the mother.

At 18 months

fangs erupt.
Typically, these teeth cause more problems than others; their eruption is more painful, and this process is often accompanied by discomfort. At 20 months,
the second molars erupt.
And sometimes already at this age the mother can notice the first problems. Doctors reassure: carious baby teeth are not a reason to worry that permanent teeth will also be bad. As practice shows, there is no pattern here. Of course, if parents do not neglect disease prevention and dental hygiene. At 2.5 years old, a child normally has a full set of baby teeth.
There are 20 of them - 10 on each jaw .

Baby teeth don’t last very long – soon they will begin to fall out and permanent ones will appear in their place. Usually the change of teeth begins at about 5–6 years and lasts until the age of 20, when wisdom teeth erupt.

Starting from 6 months, you must come for a preventive examination twice a year. When this becomes a habit, the baby will not be afraid of doctors, and by the age of 7–8 years (when a visit to the clinic can no longer be avoided) he will sit completely calmly in the dental chair

In order for your baby’s teeth to grow strong and healthy, you need to start taking care of them almost before conception. It’s also better to meet the dentist early

Timing of eruption and loss of baby teeth

Symptoms

Usually, no serious problems arise during teething, but local (in rare cases systemic) disturbances are present. These include:

• swelling and soreness of the gums;
• profuse drooling;
• irritability;
• restless sleep;
• lethargy;
• the baby's need for biting and chewing;
• poor appetite.

Loose stools, low-grade fever and runny nose are less common than the above symptoms.

Important! If the body temperature rises above 38 degrees, convulsions, difficulty breathing, you need to show the baby to a doctor and call an ambulance. This may indicate a viral infectious disease and is not a sign of teething.

Some parents wonder why this process occurs differently in babies. For example, in some teething occurs with fever, in others it does not. It is noted that, among other factors, this is also influenced by the child’s constitutional type. In children of the allergic type, this period may be accompanied by increased moodiness, atopic dermatitis, and ARVI is often associated. Infants with asthenic syndrome sleep poorly, refuse to eat, and cry for a long time due to severe pain.

What is milk bite? Formula

The appearance of baby teeth is a signal that the baby is growing up. From the point of view of human development, their appearance indicates the following:

• The child is ready for the transition from sucking to chewing, that is, from mother’s milk (or formula) to complementary foods and a gradual transition to normal food.
• From the intuitive production of individual sounds, the baby moves on to understanding speech addressed to him and even tries to imitate it.

The rudiments of baby teeth are formed in the womb, so the woman’s condition during the first trimester of pregnancy is responsible for the predisposition to “bad teeth”.

How many baby teeth should children have? The temporary bite has 20 teeth, of which 8 are incisors, 4 canines and 8 molars.

In dentistry, there are several ways to designate a temporary occlusion. In ordinary life, this information is unlikely to be useful to the mother, but it can help to better understand the dentist’s explanations and actions during the appointment.

1. The classical Zsigmond-Palmer system, which was adopted for a long time in the USSR. In it, the milk row was designated with Roman numerals.

1. A modern system accepted throughout the world, including by the International Dental Association. It involves using two numbers to designate each tooth. The first number indicates the quadrant in which the tooth is located (upper left or lower right), and the second number indicates the serial number of the tooth itself.

1. An alphanumeric system in which each type of baby tooth is designated by a capital letter, and the index number is a serial number. This method is very convenient to indicate a changeable bite. To do this, you just need to replace lowercase letters with capital ones. This change is immediately noticeable.

1. In America, it is customary to designate baby teeth using the letters of the English alphabet, placing them from the upper right molar to the lower right.

1. You can also find the group designation of milk occlusion. In it, the number indicates the number of teeth of a certain group, and its location, in fact, the type of tooth.

1. Similarly, temporary occlusion can be recorded using an alphanumeric system.

How does the jaw of baby teeth differ from permanent teeth?

There is an opinion among parents that baby teeth grow without roots. This myth appeared because during a change in bite, teeth fall out with reduced (resolved) roots. In fact, baby teeth have roots, and their number completely corresponds to that of permanent teeth. Despite the fact that the teeth of the temporary and permanent dentition are similar in appearance, there are several differences between them that help dentists accurately determine the group affiliation of the tooth.

How to help your baby teething

To eliminate unpleasant symptoms and make the child feel better, parents are advised to:

1. Buy teethers made of silicone or special soft plastic filled with water. These devices are cooled to a comfortable temperature (not frozen) and given to the baby. Cold reduces pain in the gums and relieves swelling.
2. Massage your gums. To do this, an adult needs to wrap his finger in a clean gauze swab, moisten it in cool boiled water and lightly massage the inflamed area.
3. Give ibuprofen or paracetamol if the child is very restless or has a high fever. The dosage is prescribed by the doctor.

Important! During teething, babies put everything in their mouth, which can cause a secondary infection. Therefore, parents need to carefully monitor oral hygiene, regularly wipe their face with a clean towel, and gently blot saliva.

As for special gels for gums, you need to be careful and not use them too often, as some components can cause an allergic reaction.

What teeth will a child have after one year?

In the second year of life, the baby begins to erupt small chewing teeth and canines. Fangs are the sharpest teeth that are necessary for tearing food into small pieces. Eruption of fangs is considered the most painful process due to the very sharp surface, which severely injures soft tissues. You can understand that a child’s fangs are creeping by the following signs:

• Molars in children: order of eruption

• hyperemia of the mucous membranes;
• swelling of the gum tissue, severe swelling;
• temperature rise to 38.5 degrees;
• profuse drooling;
• a white lump that has an elongated and flattened shape.

Increased salivation in infants

A few months before the canines, the baby develops small molars (they are also called premolars). Their eruption is less painful and usually occurs unnoticed by parents. In some cases, the child may experience problems with appetite, pain when brushing teeth, and changeable mood. Pathological signs that some consider typical of the eruption process (runny nose, diarrhea) usually do not occur with the appearance of first and second premolars, but this depends on the individual threshold of pain sensitivity.

Table No. 2. Pattern of teething in the second year of life.

By the end of the second year of life, a child should have about 16-18 teeth.

Important! Second molars on the upper jaw arch may appear before the child is two years old. In some children, the upper/lower dentition of primary teeth is completely formed by 23-24 months, but this happens quite rarely (no more than 5-7% of the total number of children).

Scheme of baby teeth eruption

Caring for baby teeth

You need to take care of your teeth immediately after teething. Moms do it first. For adults, special finger brushes have been created that are convenient for cleaning teeth from plaque, but so far without toothpaste. When the baby learns to rinse his mouth and spit, they move on to brushing with children's toothpaste without fluoride (this can be done earlier if the tube indicates that the toothpaste is from 0 years). So, gradually, the child will form a useful habit of caring for the oral cavity.

Another important reason for caring for teeth from infancy is that it affects the formation of permanent teeth and bite. For example, caries of a temporary tooth can transfer to the germ of a permanent one. And early loss (before 5 years) of a baby tooth will lead to uneven dentition in the future. If the molar does not begin to grow in time, the adjacent baby teeth will move and fill the resulting space.

Replacing baby teeth with permanent teeth

Eruption of molars begins at the age of 6-7 years. First, the large molars are shown (usually on the lower jaw). Then the pattern of baby teeth eruption is repeated. The incisors on the lower jaw are the first to change, and at the age of 7-8 years, the incisors on the upper jaw are also replaced. At the same time, the lower lateral incisors can also change.

At 8-9 years old, the upper incisors will change. It's the fangs' turn. At the same time (9-10 years), teeth that were not in the primary occlusion - premolars - begin to grow. There are four premolars on each jaw - two on the left and two on the right. At the age of 12, the fangs on the upper jaw will change. At this stage, the formation of the height of the bite begins, which has both aesthetic and functional significance.

The last teeth (wisdom teeth or third molars) appear between the ages of 17 and 25. Only after this can we say that the formation of the dental arches is completely completed.

When replacing baby teeth with permanent molars, it is important to pay attention to the bite. It is easy to correct at a young age, while adults will have to correct it throughout their lives. By regularly visiting a pediatric dentist, you can intervene in the process of bite formation in a timely manner. In addition, a specialist can monitor the eruption of baby and molar teeth (so that it is not too early or late), give recommendations to alleviate the child’s condition, and recommend special baby suppositories or gels for teething.