Fascinating Facts About Baby Teeth and Permanent Teeth
When we think of losing a tooth, what is usually the first thing that comes to mind? The tooth fairy, right?! After all, a visit from the tooth fairy is a childhood rite of passage! But what really happens, and what should parents expect, when baby’s primary teeth first erupt, gradually fall out, and the child’s permanent teeth come in? Learn more about this fascinating process from Dr. E, below:
Infants and Teething
The wails and shrieks that exhausted parents of infants endure are usually associated with the process known as teething. Around six months of age, the primary (or baby) teeth begin to erupt through baby’s sensitive gums. First come the bottom central teeth followed by the top four front teeth. The rest of the primary teeth gradually fill in (usually in pairs) throughout early toddlerhood. Most parents will find that their child has all of their primary teeth by about 2-3 years of age. That is why dentists also recommend that you bring your child in for their first dental visit around this age so that they can help you ensure that tooth development and oral health are on track!
Bye, Bye Baby Teeth
As the jaw grows, more space is created between the baby teeth in order to make room for the arrival of permanent teeth. Children’s permanent teeth erupt at varying rates due to heredity and other factors. However, at around 6 or 7 years old, children typically start to bid their baby teeth farewell while visits from the tooth fairy commence! While the timing varies from child to child, the central incisors and first molars usually erupt at around 6 – 8 years of age, followed by the lateral incisors, canine teeth, premolars, and second molars. The third molars, aka wisdom teeth, may arrive during the late teen years, or they may not even erupt at all. However, that’s OK – they are so far back in the mouth that they are typically NOT needed for chewing and they are very hard to effectively brush.
Some Final Tooth Tidbits
Now that you understand the timeline of tooth development – from teething all the way through to the teen years — we’ll leave you with some final fascinating facts about the development of baby teeth and permanent teeth:
- Development of the primary teeth occurs while baby is still in the womb! The “buds” are hidden under the gums.
- For every 6 months of life, approximately 4 primary teeth will erupt.
- The primary teeth generally erupt in girls earlier than in boys.
- The lower teeth usually erupt first.
- Teeth usually erupt in pairs (on the right and left side)
- In addition to being smaller, primary teeth are also typically whiter than permanent teeth.
- The average 21-year-old has 32 permanent teeth (16 on top and 16 in the lower jaw)s t
Is your family’s oral health on track, contact Dr. E Cosmetic and Family Dentistry today to schedule an appointment! 480-494-2435