Baby teeth begin to appear around 6 months and help children eat, speak, and allow adult teeth to grow properly. Even though baby teeth will fall out, they are important to care for by brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and avoiding putting babies to bed with bottles to prevent tooth decay. Baby teeth guide the position of adult teeth and protect developing adult teeth; if cavities are left untreated in baby teeth, infections can spread and potentially cause harm. There are typically 20 baby teeth that follow an eruption pattern and fall out as adult teeth grow in from ages 6 to 14.

1. Importance Of
Baby Teeth
By Dr. Ryan De Guzman

2. Importance Of
Baby Teeth
Baby teeth begin to appear around six months and can remain until
a child is 13 or 14. Baby teeth help children eat well, speak clearly and
allow adult teeth to grow in properly.
Even though they will eventually be replaced by the permanent
adult teeth, baby teeth are very important and should be well looked
after, checked or fixed if there is a problem.

3. HOW TO CARE FOR
YOUR BABY’S TEETH
Clean your baby’s gums and teeth twice a day. Use a smear of fluoride toothpaste
the size of a grain of rice, and a soft facecloth or infant toothbrush. Be gentle – try
distracting your baby with songs, talking or praise.
It’s best not put your baby to bed with a bottle of anything but water. Milk, juice
and formula can cause serious tooth decay when left in a sleeping baby’s mouth.
Your child should start seeing a Pediatric Dentist regularly within six months of
getting their first tooth, or by age one.

4. WHEN DO BABY TEETH COME IN?
According to the American
Dental Association, here is an
infographic on the order of
appearance of the baby
teeth.

5. WHEN DO BABY TEETH COME IN?
A baby’s 20 primary teeth are already present in the jaws at birth and
typically begin to appear when a baby is between 6 months and 1 year.
Most children have a full set of 20 primary teeth by the time they are 3.
Check out this baby teeth eruption chart to see the order in which teeth
break through and at what ages you can expect specific teeth to
appear. Every child is different, but usually the first teeth to come in are
located in the top and bottom front of their mouth.

6. WHEN DO BABY TEETH COME IN?
When teeth first come in, some babies may have sore or tender gums.
Gently rubbing your child’s gums with a clean finger, a small, cool spoon
or a wet gauze pad can be soothing. You can also give the baby a clean
teething ring to chew on. If your child is still cranky and in pain, consult
your dentist or physician.

7. WHY BABY TEETH MATTER
Here are five reasons why baby teeth should be taken care of just as we
take care of our permanent (adult) teeth.

8. WHY BABY TEETH MATTER
1. Tooth alignment and position – The primary teeth save space for the
adult teeth and guide the adult teeth into their proper position. If the
baby tooth is lost early due to tooth decay, the adjacent teeth tend to
drift or tip into that space. Therefore, the permanent tooth has less room
to come in and can be blocked from erupting into that space.

9. WHY BABY TEETH MATTER
2. Healthy permanent teeth – The permanent teeth develop very close
to the roots of the baby teeth. Baby teeth are much smaller and cavities
can spread very quickly through their thin enamel. If cavities are left
untreated, the baby tooth can develop and infection or abscess which
can hinder tooth development and cause damage to the permanent
tooth underneath.

10. WHY BABY TEETH MATTER
3. Proper health and nutrition – Teeth, of course, are needed for
chewing. Dental pain from cavities can lead to nutritional deficiencies if
the child is not able to properly chew their food. Also, if cavities are left
untreated, there is a great risk of an infection forming. And this infection
can spread to other areas of the body and even to the brain. This can turn
into an emergency situation very rapidly and the child may need to be
hospitalized. Unfortunately, there have been reported cases where
children have died from a dental abscess.

11. WHY BABY TEETH MATTER
4. Speech and facial development – The tongue, lips and cheeks deflect
off teeth when forming sounds. The presence and proper positioning of
baby teeth assist in the formation of correct pronunciation during
speech. The tooth structure also provides support for the developing
facial muscles and gives shape to your child’s face.

12. WHY BABY TEETH MATTER
5. Concentration and self-esteem – If a child is having dental pain, it can greatly
affect their ability to pay attention and learn in school. Decayed teeth can also
interfere with a child’s social interactions and affect their confidence and self-
esteem. This can also lead to children missing school and parents having to miss
work if they have to take children into the dentist for emergency appointments.
The bottom line: Teaching your child to develop good oral care habits with their
primary teeth is very important! These early habits will help them keep those
permanent teeth healthy for life!

13. For more information about
your child’s oral health,
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kidsmile.com.ph