Your baby's mouth is one of his most important tools. From the time he is born, he uses it to obtain nutrition, and as he develops he uses it to explore his world. His eventual tooth development will allow him to broaden his eating horizons, but transitioning from a gummy grin to a toothy smile isn't seamless. To keep your baby as content as possible, know when to expect his baby teeth to emerge and be prepared for the soreness that often coincides with teething.
Tooth Bud Formation
Buds for your baby's primary teeth start to form at about six weeks' gestation. Some tooth buds will become evident sometime between the fourth and fifth month and all tooth buds should be formed by the seventh month, according to Discovery Communications. By the time your baby is born, the crowns of his front teeth are formed, complete with enamel, and the crowns for some other primary teeth and buds for some permanent molars are somewhat formed.
Tooth Eruption
Although tooth eruption times vary for each child, the Cleveland Clinic mentions that children's teeth tend to follow a specific pattern. For example, the first teeth, often the bottom front two, generally emerge through a baby's gums by the time she is 6 months old. The next teeth to emerge are typically the top four front teeth between 8 and 13 months. These are followed by other teeth until she has a full set of 20 primary teeth somewhere between 2 and a half and 3. Barring any accidents or decay, all of her primary teeth should remain in her mouth until she is between 6 and 7 years old.
Growth Trends
There are other growth patterns that you should be aware of, according to the Cleveland Clinic. For example, don't be surprised if your female baby's teeth erupt sooner than her brother's or your friends' male babies did. Also expect about four teeth to erupt for every six months and for them to grow in pairs, one on each side of the mouth. Additionally, anticipate that your preschool-to-kindergarten aged child's facial bones and jaw will grow to create spaces between her teeth; they are making room to accommodate her larger future permanent teeth. Moreover, expect that her permanent teeth won't be as white as her primary teeth.
Teething
Your baby may begin teething as young as 3 months of age. He is likely teething if his gums appear swollen and you notice that he is drooling and chewing on objects excessively. Just because he is teething, however, doesn't mean his teeth are about to appear; his first tooth may not emerge for a few months. If your baby seems to be experiencing any discomfort, try rubbing his gums with clean fingers, giving him a chewing object such as a wet washcloth or a rubber teething ring or offering him a baby dose of acetaminophen--with your pediatrician's approval--to relieve some of it.
Importance of Baby Teeth
Although your child's primary teeth are temporary, caring for them is just as important as caring for his permanent teeth. According to the American Dental Association, they help your child obtain proper nutrition through chewing, they help your child speak properly and they hold space for the teeth that will carry him through the rest of his life. If you don't clean them regularly or make appointments for dental check-ups, your child's current and future health may be at risk.
