919-381-5900 Your child’s baby teeth are important to his or her development. These teeth help them chew, speak, and smile. The primary teeth also hold the place for the permanent teeth to grow in. The health of the baby teeth is important because when one is lost too early, the permanent teeth can drift into the space. This can cause the permanent teeth to come in crooked.
There are 20 baby teeth, which begin to grow in when a baby is between six months and one year old. Most children have all of their baby teeth by age three. When your child’s teeth begin to grow in, their gums may become sore. Soothe your child by rubbing their gums with a clean finger, a cool spoon, or a wet gauze pad. Another option is giving your child a teething toy to chew on.
It is important that you take care of your baby’s teeth and gums. Before their teeth come in, clean your baby’s gums with a soft, moistened washcloth or a piece of gauze at least twice a day. Make sure to wipe your baby’s gums after they eat and before bedtime. When your baby’s teeth begin go grow in, begin using a toothbrush with soft bristles, a small head, and a large handle. As soon as the teeth erupt, use a small amount of toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice, to clean his or her teeth. Increase the toothpaste amount to about the size of a pea when he or she is about three years old. Brush your child’s teeth until he or she is old enough to hold their toothbrush and brush their teeth themselves. Supervise your child’s oral hygiene until he or she can rinse and spit without help.
Feel free to contact Bull City Smiles Cosmetic & Family Dentistry, Debora Bolton DDS today to learn more about baby teeth in Durham, North Carolina. Schedule your child’s first appointment with our dentist, Dr. Debora Bolton, when he or she is about a year old.