Teething, a lost tooth, the tooth fairy and permanent teeth are common terms for any parent with children under the age of 13. There are many differences between these two sets of teeth, but baby and permanent teeth are both prone to dental decay if not cared for properly. If at any time you're unsure if a tooth is a baby or permanent tooth, a dentist will be able to assist you.
Time Frame
According to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, baby teeth--also known as primary teeth, milk teeth and deciduous teeth--begin to protrude through an infant's gums between four and 12 months of age. The front lower teeth, called the central incisors, are usually first to emerge, at eight months on average. The farthest back molars of the lower and bottom jaw are usually the last to erupt and show around 26 months. Children generally begin to lose their baby teeth at six years of age, and the last baby tooth usually falls out around the age of 12.
Children usually have 28 permanent teeth by the age of 13 and then four wisdom teeth, which are behind the molars and generally erupt by the age of 21.
Eruption
Teething for an infant can be a long and uncomfortable experience since the teeth are actually penetrating through the gum. Signs that a tooth is beginning to erupt usually include fussiness, a low-grade fever, runny nose and loose stools. An infant may also pull at the ears. A doctor can evaluate a baby to determine if teething is beginning or if there is a more serious problem, such as an ear infection or becoming ill.
According to Simply Teeth, beginning with the development of the crown, permanent teeth prepare to surface by growing in space left by the baby tooth's root. Baby teeth act as placeholders for permanent teeth.
Identification
The time when a child has a combination of permanent and baby teeth is called mixed dentition. Even when there is a combination of teeth, dentists are still able to tell a permanent tooth in comparison to a baby tooth. Baby teeth are clearly smaller than permanent teeth. Most children go through an awkward stage where their front teeth look large in comparison to the size of their face, but as they grow, the teeth no longer look large. Additionally, in comparison with a permanent tooth, the nerve of a baby tooth appears larger in relation to its overall size.
Quantity
According to Simply Teeth, there are a total of 20 baby teeth and 32 permanent teeth. As a child's body grows, so does the jawbone. The jawbone's growth accommodates the 12 additional teeth. However, if the growth is not sufficient, the permanent teeth will crowd together and become crooked. In this case, a dentist will often remove some of the permanent teeth to make room in the mouth. A dentist or orthodontist can then apply braces to straighten the teeth.
Care
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends cleaning baby teeth as soon as they erupt. Caregivers should clean baby teeth with a soft cloth, gauze pad or infant toothbrush in the morning, before bed and after feedings. The ADA also recommends a dental exam for infants within six months of the first tooth eruption and no later than a child's first birthday. The ADA recommends starting fluoride toothpaste use when the child is two years old, as long as your dentist has advised the same.
Care is very similar for permanent teeth. The ADA suggests brushing twice per day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. In addition, a person should floss daily, eat a balanced diet and receive regular dental checkups to prevent gingivitis, gum disease and tooth decay.
