20/20 Dental Practice Blog

When will my baby’s teeth start developing?

Posted by Ronel Van Der Spuy on Feb 15, 2015 3:00:00 PM

missing_baby_toothChildren's teeth begin developing in the womb. Therefore, nutrition during pregnancy is important in the development of your child's teeth. A mother's diet should contain adequate amounts of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C and vitamin D.

Certain medications, such as tetracycline, should not be taken by the mother while she is pregnant as this can cause harm to the developing teeth of the embryo.

 

When will my baby’s teeth start developing?

Most babies start teething at around six months. However, all babies are different and the timing of teething varies.

A rough guide to the different stages of teething is:-

  • bottom front teeth (incisors) – these are the first to come through, at around five to seven months -
  • top front teeth (incisors) – these come through at around six to eight months 
  • top lateral incisors (either side of the top front teeth) – these come through at around nine to 11 months 
  • bottom lateral incisors (either side of the bottom front teeth) – these come through at around 10-12 months -
  • molars (back teeth) – these come through at around 12-16 months 
  • canines (towards the back of the mouth) – these come through at around 16-20 months 
  • second molars – these come through at around 20-30 months.

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Most children will have all of their milk teeth by the time they are two and a half years old.

Why do milk teeth fall out?

Baby teeth usually stay in place until their roots are resorbed by the erupting permanent teeth. The wobbly baby tooth will eventually fall out since there is less of a root present to secure the baby tooth as the permanent tooth pushes upward.

Parents often worry that something is wrong when a child’s baby teeth do not fall out as expected. Although there are some developmental issues which require professional attention, most of the time everything is just fine.

Baby teeth are important because they are essential to the development of a growing child’s jaws by preserving space for their permanent teeth.


How old should my child be when they first visit the dentist?

If you take your baby to the  when their first teeth appear,around 6 months your dentist will be able to check that their teeth are developing correctly. Your dentist can also advise you how to care for your baby's teeth and how to ease problems such as teething.  NHS dental treatment for children is free. 

It is also a good idea to take your child with you when you go to the dentist as this will help them become familiar and comfortable with the surroundings.  Getting children used to going to the sights and sounds of the dental surgery from an early age will help put them at ease when they have to go for their own check-ups.

Children's Oral Care Leaflet

 

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