Children's Dental Articles
Little Teeth are a Big Deal!
Parents want to know, "Why should we worry about cavities in baby teeth when they will be replaced by permanent teeth anyway?"
Dr. Dean Meier, a Board Certified Winnipeg Pediatric Dentist at Children's Dental Centre, has the answer to that. "To begin with, your child's primary teeth are usually in their mouths until they are 12 to 13 years old." "These teeth serve to hold the space for their permanent teeth and to guide the proper eruption of their adult teeth." Dr. Meier, adds that "baby teeth are also crucial in helping maintain good nutrition by allowing children to chew properly and to contribute to proper speech habits and good pronunciation."
By the age of three, all 20 baby teeth have usually erupted. Most children start to get teeth around six months, but it is not unusual for teeth to begin appearing as early as three months or as late as one year. As with all aspects of child development, there is a lot of variation among children.
Here is when you might see your child's teeth come in:
- Six months - first incisors (front teeth)
- Seven months - second incisors
- 12 months - first molars
- 18 months - canines (eye teeth)
- Two to three years - second molars
With gentle brushing twice a day and regular visits to your child's pediatric dentist, baby teeth will remain in great shape by the time the tooth fairy comes.
Published in Winnipeg Parent Magazine
