Infancy through toddlerhood is a really exciting time for parents! You\u2019re watching your baby grow and hit important milestones, like saying their first words or taking their first step. The arrival of pearly white baby teeth is another big one, which often triggers parents to wonder about caring for their baby\u2019s quickly developing smile and what are the best ways to help their child have healthy teeth.<\/p>\n
Before diving into caring for your baby or toddler\u2019s smile and helping them have healthy teeth, here are some important things you should know about general development.<\/p>\n
Somewhere between the age of six to 10 months, you should notice that your baby\u2019s primary teeth are starting to come in. The first teeth to come in are the central incisors, or the very front teeth on the top and bottom. Most kids will gain each new tooth, starting from the front to the back, beginning with their incisors and ending with the molars<\/a>.<\/p>\n Around two-and-a-half to three years of age, your toddler should have a full smile with all of their primary teeth in place. Keep in mind that many eruption charts, like this one from the ADA<\/a>, have a pretty broad range of time for when a tooth may arrive. As long as your child is developing normally and under the supervision of a dentist, there\u2019s nothing to worry about if a rear molar is taking a little longer to erupt.<\/p>\n If your child\u2019s baby teeth arrived on an earlier schedule than average, they may also experience earlier shedding or loss of their baby teeth<\/a>. Most kids will be between the ages of six or seven when they lose their first tooth, but this can also happen as young as four or five. Again, as long as your child\u2019s progress is being monitored by a pediatric dentist, there often isn\u2019t any reason for worry.<\/p>\n Your baby\u2019s first dentist is going to be their best friend when it comes to protecting their oral health and helping your child have healthy teeth.<\/p>\n General guidelines for a baby\u2019s first dental appointment<\/a> are to book a visit within six months of their first tooth erupting or no later than their first birthday. This may seem very early, but it\u2019s for good reason. The sooner your baby begins to get used to visiting their dentist, the sooner they\u2019ll begin to develop a trusting, confident relationship with the dental care team.<\/p>\n Your general or family dentist may allow kids as patients, but consider choosing a board-certified pediatric dentist instead. A dedicated pediatric dental practice has extensive additional training in kids\u2019 dental care, including diagnosis, treatment, and handling. A friendly, welcoming pediatric dental care team will provide the comfort and skills to make your baby or toddler feel calm and relaxed.<\/p>\n Lip and tongue ties<\/a> are fairly common issues parents may face with their young children. The good news is many board-certified pediatric dentists can also diagnose and treat lip and tongue ties. Modern dental practices even offer soft-tissue laser dentistry for treatment, resulting in greater comfort, minimal need for anesthesia, and a faster healing time afterward.<\/p>\n At-home dental care ensures your baby or toddler\u2019s smile is cavity-free, which is key to having healthy teeth.<\/p>\nBy age three, your toddler will have all of their primary teeth and a full smile.<\/h3>\n
Natural loss of baby teeth can sometimes begin as early as four years of age.<\/h3>\n
Your Baby\u2019s First Experiences With Their New Dentist<\/h2>\n
Your baby\u2019s first visit to the dentist should take place by their first birthday.<\/h3>\n
When choosing a dental home, pick one with a board-certified pediatric dentist.<\/h3>\n
Your baby\u2019s pediatric dentist can also perform a lip and tongue tie evaluation.<\/h3>\n
Creating an Effective At-Home Early Dental Care Routine<\/h2>\n
It\u2019s never too early to start caring for your baby\u2019s smile.<\/h3>\n