When Can I Expect My Child’s Baby Teeth To Come In? What New Parents Need To Know

If you’re a new parent, you may be wondering what to expect as your infant grows into a toddler. When will their teeth start to erupt, and how can you make sure their smile stays healthy as they grow? Let’s get into the details in this blog from First Smiles Children’s Dentistry, and discuss everything parents should know about baby teeth!
‍

Most Kids Get Their First Baby Teeth Between 6-12 Months

So when will your child get their first baby teeth? Their bottom front teeth will usually erupt first, sometime between 6-10 months. Then, their upper front teeth will come in between the age of 8-12 months. Your child’s baby teeth will continue to erupt until they have a full set of 20 baby teeth when they're about three years old.

Your child’s front baby teeth usually fall out first and are replaced by adult teeth at about 6-7 years old. However, your child won’t lose their last baby tooth until they're around 12 or 13 years old.
‍

Caring For Their New Smile – Our Tips For Keeping Baby Teeth Healthy

Your child’s baby teeth are important for eating, chewing, smiling, speaking, and so much more. So once your infant has their first tooth, it’s important to take care of it, and make sure their smile stays healthy as it continues to develop:

• Brush their teeth twice per day – You’ll want to brush your child’s tooth or teeth with a smear of toothpaste and a baby toothbrush. Once your child knows how to spit out toothpaste and not swallow it, you can switch to a dab of toothpaste that’s about the size of a pea. Brush their teeth at least twice per day. And don’t forget to brush their gums to keep them clean, too!
  
  
• Use fluoride toothpaste – It has been shown that fluoride when used properly is not harmful to kids or adults. In fact, it helps rebuild and strengthen teeth to protect from decay. The ADA recommends that kids of all ages use fluoride toothpaste when brushing their teeth.
  
  
• Give your child tap water – Tap water is fluoridated in most communities, meaning it has a small amount of fluoride. Just like the fluoride in toothpaste, this helps strengthen your little one’s teeth. So choose tap water rather than bottled or distilled water!
  
  
• Floss regularly – You should help your child floss once a day to form good habits until  they can manage flossing on their own. This helps dislodge food particles that may be left behind after meals and improves and maintains gum health. 

• Never put your baby to bed with a bottle – If you put your child to bed with a bottle of milk, formula, juice, or anything else sweet, this can cause “baby bottle decay.” This happens when sugar-rich liquid sits on their baby teeth, causing extensive cavities.
  ‍

Bring Your Baby To The First Smiles Children’s Dentistry When Their First Tooth Erupts

Did you know that your child should see a dentist when they turn a year old, or whenever their first tooth comes in? Whether your little one has just gotten their first tooth or they're older and haven’t yet seen a children’s dentist, Dr. Chris Ha and the team at First Smiles Children’s Dentistry are here to help. Dental visits that begin at an early age help create a lifetime habit of seeing a dentist regularly. 

During your consultation at our office, Dr. Ha will check on your child’s oral health and development and answer any questions you might have, and provide you with the advice and tips you need to keep your little one’s mouth healthy as they grow. So don’t wait. Contact us online or give us a call at (209) 343-3500 to schedule your little one’s first dental visit in Modesto today.