Baby Teeth – Interesting Facts You Should Know
When underneath the baby’s pink gums, white begins to show it’s a clear sign that a baby’s teeth are starting to grow. When a baby’s teeth start to poke out parents are usually full of questions and concerns. For this reason, dental implants professionals made this article to answer the most frequent questions and clarify common doubts regarding a baby’s teeth, but also to relieve interesting facts you probably didn’t know about.
Maybe the most interesting fact that concerns the growth of a baby’s teeth is that all baby teeth, 20 of them, are already there before you see them poking through. However, most babies will grow their teeth between 6 and 12 months, but this period can also vary fro-case to case.
Some babies will even have teeth at birth. Those teeth are called natal teeth, and the cause of this phenomenon still remains unclear. Natal teeth usually never fully develop and have a weak root. Due to its weak root natal teeth can be loose and potentially dangerous for babies as they can be aspirated or ingested. To prevent such incidents, natal teeth are often removed in the hospital. On the other hand, some natal teeth will fall out by themselves in the first year of life, while those that are just slightly loose at birth are prone to stabilize quickly after.
The first teeth that will start to show are most often cantar incisors in the lower jaw. The next that will come up, as a rule, are the central incisors in an upper jaw.
The last of baby teeth that will show up are second morals. Also, the morals in a low jaw usually appear before those in the upper jaw.
Typically, in the first three years of a baby`s life, all 20 baby teeth will appear.
Incisor’s teeth often fall out around six and eight years old. Canines and morals children usually lose after nine years old and until thirteen.
Some studies suggest that babies that have only been fed by breastfeeding have a 72% less chance to have crooked teeth.
Parents should start cleaning their baby’s mouth within the first few weeks. This is because milk residues can settle in the baby’s tongue and between the inside of the cheeks and gums. When a fist tooth starts to erupt, parents should gently clean the surface. Use a moist gauze pad, washcloth, or clear finger, to gently rub a baby`s gums.
Benzocaine products for a purpose of cleaning baby’s teeth are recommended to avoid until the age of two.
The normal and most common signs of teething in babies are sleeping troubles, loss of appetite, irritability, and drooling. On the other hand, some babies develop more serious symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, or rush but these are also usually harmless although it is recommended to consult the paediatrician. If a baby’s temperature exceeds 38 Celsius degrees (100,4 Farenhaight degrees) the increased temperature is not linked to teeth growing and indicates that something else is causing the baby`s temperature to rise. Also, if the discomfort and pain that a baby is experiencing are significant, the paediatrician will probably suggest medication and its dose according to the baby’s weight and months.
Other symptoms that are often in teeth eruption are swelling of gums and pain. To provide your baby relief, you can use a cool spoon to massage the area or offer them a cooled-out teething ring. When looking for an appropriate teething ring, pay attention to its material and avoid those with a liquid filling that is not made of solid rubber.
When looking for a way to soothe your baby`s discomfort regarding growing teeth, avoid teeth tablets and gels that contain benzocaine and belladonna. These extracts from plants are plant poisons in small amounts that are infused into products to provide relief and numb the baby`s pain. However, even in a small amount, these ingredients can have side effects. Therefore, FDA has issued a warning against baby products that contain these anaesthetic substances.
Another product that is widely used for reducing teething pain is amber bracelets. However, the effect of these necklaces is not scientifically proven and even contrary, no research has ever proven the efficiency of an amber necklace. On the other hand, amber necklaces are just like every other necklace around an infant’s neck and pose the risk of strangulation and choking.
Summary
The fists visit to a dental paediatrician should be when the first teeth erupt or before the first birthday. A dental paediatrician will examine if a baby`s teeth are developing normally and recognize potential issues. Also, they will provide advice regarding a baby` proper dental hygiene and adequate ways to soothe discomforting symptoms of teething.
