The first stage of tooth development starts at six weeks gestation, according to the Children's Hospital Boston. However, most infants do not start teething until six months of age. Understanding your infant's tooth development will help you keep her teeth strong and healthy.
Teething
As your infant begins to teethe, his drooling may increase and he may chew on anything he can get into his mouth. Most babies get the lower central incisor (middle tooth on the bottom jaw) first, advises the Mayo Clinic. By the age of 2, most children have at least 16 teeth, according to the National Network For Child Care. All 20 primary teeth should erupt (come through the gum) by the time your child reaches 3 years of age.
Teething Pain
Several things may help your infant with the pain associated with teething. Cleaned and chilled teething rings can soothe teething pain. Rubbing ice on her gums can also help relieve the pain. You may want to give your infant some Tylenol elixir. Children over the age of 4 months may benefit from the application of benzocaine ointment, advises Dr. Anil Pradhan, a pediatrician from Bradford, Pa. However, you should watch your baby for benzocaine-related allergies. Plus, if you apply too much benzocaine ointment, you may numb your infant's throat and increase her risk of choking.
Tooth Care
You should clean your infant's gums and teeth once or twice a day with a piece of clean gauze, advises DentalResource.org. Unfortunately, some infants fight teeth brushing. If this happens, find a simple reward for each time your infant allows you to brush his teeth. You can use almost anything for a reward, but infants will respond best to praising words, smiles, hugs and kisses, advises Dr. Pradhan. You need to brush your infant's teeth for only five seconds to start. As your infant allows you to brush his teeth, increase this length of time. Do not use toothpaste that contains fluoride to clean an infant's teeth, because the infant may swallow it and become sick from the fluoride.
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Unfortunately, the breast milk or formula you feed your infant may lead to baby bottle tooth decay. The bacteria in your infant's mouth turn the natural sugars in formulas, milks and juices into acids that can eat away the enamel of the teeth if allowed to stay in the mouth for an extended period of time, advises Dr.Greene.com. Drooling helps to clear the infant's mouth of these damaging acids. However, when a baby falls asleep within 15 minutes of eating or drinking, the acid remains in his mouth. If your infant falls asleep soon after feeding, you should clean his teeth within the first 15 minutes of sleeping.
Abnormal Tooth Development
Certain diseases can affect the color, shape and presence of your infant's teeth. Some conditions that can delay or prevent the appearance of your infant's teeth include apertsyndrome, Down syndrome, hypothyroidism and cleidocranial dysostosis, according to Medline Plus. Tooth development may also be affected if a mother fails to consume adequate amounts of phosphorus, calcium, vitamin D and vitamin C during her pregnancy, according to Children's Hospital Boston. Certain medications, like tetracycline, may also negatively affect an infant's tooth development.
References
- DentalResource.com: Baby Teeth--The Basics
- Mayo Clinic: Infant Development
- National Network For Child Care: Taking Care of Teeth
- MedLine Plus: Tooth Formation--Delayed or Absent
- Dr. Anil Pradhan, M.D.; Pediatric Associates Of Bradford; Bradford, Pa
