The time it takes to achieve the milestones of childhood development varies widely from child to child, and is greatly influenced by genetics. Dental development is no exception. Your baby's teeth begin developing in utero--in the womb. Between the ages of 1 and 3, your toddler typically develops a full set of 20 teeth.
In Utero
During the second trimester of pregnancy, your baby begins his dental development. At this time, a tooth bud and accompanying root form under the gums. Gradually, the tooth puts pressure on the nearby tissue, causing it to become thinner and thinner, until the tooth eventually erupts. While a baby is typically born with no visible teeth, in rare cases a baby's teeth may have erupted in utero.
Baby
The stage when your baby's teeth become visible is called teething. Most babies start teething around 6 months of age, although it can start as early as 3 months and be as late as 1 year. Typically, the two bottom front teeth, the lower central incisors, are the first to appear, followed by the two top front teeth, the upper central incisors. Around 10 months of age, the lower and upper lateral incisors appear next to the central incisors. Symptoms of teething include an increase in drooling and chewing on solid objects, swollen gums and irritability.
Toddler
Around the age of 1 year, your toddler develops her molars in the back of the mouth. The pointed teeth between the incisors and molars, the canines, are usually next. Around the age of 2, your toddler develops a second set of molars behind the first. By the age of 3, your toddler should typically be done teething, until the age of 6, when children generally lose their baby teeth and start developing adult teeth.
Dental Care
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, or AAPD, recommends beginning a dental routine at birth, cleaning your baby's gums with a soft infant toothbrush or wet washcloth daily. Once teeth are visible, brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste using a soft, age-specific toothbrush. The AAPD recommends using a "smear" amount of toothpaste for children less than 2 years old and a "pea-sized" amount for children 2 to 5 years old. Your child's first visit to the dentist should be before age 1 for early detection and prevention of dental problems.
