| A child’s teeth, sometimes called “baby teeth” are as important as the permanent adult teeth. Primary teeth, which often appear when a child is about 6 months old, help them chew and speak. They also hold space in the jaws for permanent teeth that are developing under the gums.
Most children have a full set of 20 primary teeth by the age of 3 years. The primary teeth generally begin to shed, or fall out, at about 6 years of age. The first of the 32 permanent teeth begin to appear about the same time.
Begin brushing your child’s teeth with a little water as soon as the first tooth appears. Supervise tooth brushing to make sure that children older than 2 years of age use only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste and avoid swallowing it. Children should be taught to spit out the remaining tooth paste and rise with water after brushing.
The American Dental Association recommends that a child be seen by us no later than the first birthday. We believe that this “well baby checkup” for the teeth can take place when more teeth are present or by 2 years. Whichever you choose, it is important to help clean your child’s teeth daily while being aware of any visual changes in their teeth that appear out of the ordinary.
As the permanent molars appear, the 6 year permanent molars erupt in back of the last primary tooth (no tooth is lost for this tooth to appear), dental sealants may be recommended. Sealants form a thin barrier that helps protect the chewing surface from the effects of decay-causing bacteria. Help your children maintain a lifelong healthy smile by providing them with a well-balanced diet, limiting snacks, ensuring that they brush twice per day and floss once per day, and scheduling regular checkups.
The American Dental Association has produced some useful animations that you might find interesting…just follow the link! |
