Baby teeth, or primary teeth, are teeth that typically push through your child's gumline somewhere between the ages of 4 months and 12 months. These temporary teeth, which appear gradually, usually begin to fall out by the time you child reaches age 5, and are replaced by adult permanent teeth somewhere around age 12. (See References 1)
Baby Teeth Basics
Baby teeth perform several important functions, according to the American Dental Association, or ADA. These include helping your child speak and chew, in addition to reserving space in your child's jawline for the later emergence of permanent teeth. Overall, your child will have 20 baby teeth. Within six months of the appearance of your child's first tooth, the ADA recommends that you take him to a dentist for an initial checkup. During this checkup, the dentist can give you instructions for proper teeth cleaning, in addition to examining your child for potential problems such as tooth decay and structural malformations caused by thumbsucking. At the latest, your child should see a dentist before his first birthday. (See References 2)
Tooth Arrival
In most cases, the first teeth to appear in a child's mouth are the middle teeth in the lower jaw, also called the central incisors, according to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. Next, the four upper middle teeth called the upper incisors will typically appear. These incisors are followed by the four first molars, which appear in your child's upper and lower jaws. Next come the lateral incisors, which sit next to the central incisors in the lower jaw. After these teeth come the four cuspids, or canine teeth, in the upper and lower jaws. Finally, the four second molars appear in your child's upper and lower jaws. (See References 1)
Growth Rates
Typically, your child's last baby teeth will appear sometime after he turns two, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital reports. Once baby teeth begin to erupt from the gum line, a new one appears roughly every one month. However, depending on your child's particular circumstances, baby teeth may appear at different times and rates. To allow room for your child's larger permanent teeth, baby teeth usually form with significant gaps between adjacent teeth, says the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford.
Losing Baby Teeth
When his baby teeth begin to fall out, your child will typically first lose his central incisors, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital explains. After these teeth are gone, your child's first permanent molars will appear in the back of his mouth. Usually, the last baby teeth in your child's mouth are either his second molars or cuspids. Ultimately, your child will have 32 permanent teeth to replace his 20 baby teeth.
Considerations
Tooth decay can begin affecting your child's baby teeth as soon as they emerge, the ADA notes. To avoid this possibility, routinely brush his teeth with an appropriately sized toothbrush and plain water. Once your child reaches the age of 2, you can begin brushing his teeth with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste. Once you start using fluoride, the American Dental Associations says you will need to make sure your child spits out his toothpaste rather than swallowing it.
