When your baby’s first teeth appear, you’ll undoubtedly grab for the baby book first. This is, after all, a historic occasion! Baby teeth are adorable because they are so little and white. However, not every baby develops their temporary teeth optimally. Not only that, but diet can have a negative impact on baby teeth in the same way as it does on permanent teeth. So, when it comes to infant teeth, what’s normal and what’s not?

How Do Teeth Grow In?

• Your child may have four baby teeth come in between the ages of five and twelve months. A frequent layout is to have two front teeth on top and two front bottom teeth.
• Your infant may have a total of six temporary teeth between the ages of 8 and 13 months, with four on the top and two on the bottom.
• A baby with 12 baby teeth at 13 to 19 months of age is considered normal. The front four teeth on the bottom, along with two molars on each side, are the most common. At the top, the pattern frequently repeats.
• It’s usual for your infant to have roughly 16 temporary teeth between the ages of 16 and 23 months. Note that solid foods are being consumed on a daily basis at this stage, and no permanent teeth have yet arrived in the mouth.
• Your child could get as many as 20 temporary teeth between the ages of two and three and a half.
• The permanent teeth begin to appear between the ages of six and seven. They’ll appear as molars in the back of the mouth. After this, baby teeth are gradually replaced by permanent teeth.

The American Dental Association considers all of these stages to be normal. The development of your child’s teeth may differ slightly.

What Could Raise Concerns?

There are a number of things that can go wrong at any time during these periods. Here are several things that aren’t typical and should be checked out by a pediatric dentist.

• When a baby tooth falls out before it’s time for a new one to grow in, it’s called prematurity. Troubleshooting should be done at the pediatric dentist’s office.
• The infant teeth begin to darken or turn black. This is a symptom that your teeth are decaying.
• The infant teeth do not erupt on time. Consult a dentist if you have any concerns.
• The infant teeth are misaligned when they come in. Consult your pediatric dentist to keep an eye on the situation.
• Although the baby teeth fall away, no permanent teeth appear. This necessitates a trip to the dentist to rule out any underlying problems.
• By the age of one, the baby teeth have vanished. Again, the condition must be diagnosed by a pediatric dentist.

This should give you a decent understanding of what to expect from your baby’s tooth growth and what to check for in the event of a problem. Remember, even before your baby’s teeth develop, you should bring him or her in for a dental checkup. Gum health is just as important for children as it is for adults when it comes to overall oral health.

Kidzania Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics is the place kids love to go. Whether your child only needs a routine cleaning or you’re concerned about future dental issues, we’re here to help.