Many parents greet the appearance of a baby's first tooth with both joy and frustration. While it proves exciting when a baby grows his first teeth, the pain of teething can make even the happiest baby a bit cranky. Understanding the process of tooth development can help parents know what their little one is going through and help them find ways to keep their baby smiling a soon-to-be toothsome grin.
Timing
On average, a baby's teeth come in at around 5 to 7 months, but some babies fall well out of this range, according to pediatrician Dr. Alan Greene. A baby can start to develop his first teeth as early as one month old or as late as 18 months of age. The full range of 20 baby teeth typically has appeared in the mouth by 20 to 30 months of age. Occasionally, a baby has one or more tiny teeth, called natal teeth, at birth. These don't usually cause any problems, but parents should watch to make sure they aren't causing the baby pain or interfering with the baby's ability to eat effectively. The teeth of baby girls tend to come in earlier than those of baby boys.
Patterns
When baby teeth first appear in the mouth of an infant, they generally show up in the lower gums first. The upper teeth take longer to appear. The pattern of baby tooth growth generally begins with the eruption of the bottom central incisors followed by the upper central incisors and lateral incisors 4 to 8 weeks later, as described by the Nemours Foundation. After these, the bottom lateral incisors come out, then the first molars. Finally, the cuspids, also known as canine teeth, and second molars emerge.
Care
Babies who are teething should be offered teething rings or even a chilled washcloth to help them ease the pain and assist in working the emerging tooth through the gums. Once the teeth have begun to show, parents should brush the new baby teeth daily with a little water, explains the American Dental Association. Toothpaste should not be used until the child reaches 2 to 3 years old. Once two teeth have emerged next to each other, parents should start cleaning between the teeth using either dental floss or a water-based dental cleaning device.
Concerns
If none of a baby's teeth have come out by 18 months, a developmental or nutritional problem may be to blame. Rickets can cause a delay in tooth eruption, according to Dr. Greene. Low activity of the thyroid or pituitary glands can also slow the development of baby teeth. An overactive thyroid, on the other hand, can cause premature tooth development.
Tooth Loss
Baby teeth don't last forever, and most children begin to lose their lower incisors sometime around 6 to 7 years of age. By age 13 or 14, the process usually finishes and baby teeth are but a memory.
