The first baby teeth, known as primary teeth, usually appear as early as 3-4 months of age, but really start to erupt through the gums between the ages of 6 months to one year of age. The timing all depends, and which ones come out first all depends, too, but all 20 primary teeth (baby teeth) will usually erupt by the age of three. And those baby teeth are important, even if you can’t see them and even if they eventually fall out and are replaced with permanent adult teeth.
Visit our dentist within six months after your child’s first tooth erupts through their gums, and no later than your child’s first birthday.
This first dentist visit will be a meet and greet; a short visit that will include an oral exam and a show-and-tell of all the instruments and equipment in the room. During the oral exam, your pediatric dentist will check for decay and take a look at your child’s gums, jaw, and bite to make sure everything is looking good. Your child may also get his or her teeth cleaned. And you’ll get tips on how to help keep that tooth, any new teeth, and your child’s entire mouth healthy.
Baby teeth help children speak clearly, chew naturally, and provide a path for permanent teeth. Baby teeth forge the way for a lifetime of oral wellness and a smile that helps children feel healthier, happier and more confident.
Remember, your child’s good oral hygiene and eating habits start early. They start with you!
Brushing and Flossing Children's Teeth
Help keep your child’s teeth healthy by using the 2-2-2 rule: visit your dentist
TWO times a year, and brush and floss
TWO times a day for
TWO whole minutes!
Continue helping to brush a child’s teeth until they’re age 4 or 5. After that, let them do it themselves, but supervise them until age 7 or 8. Children and adults should brush for two minutes, twice a day.
What are dental sealants?
A dental sealant is a plastic material that our dentists apply to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (premolars and molars) of children. Dental sealants are a plastic resin that bonds into the depressions and grooves (pits and fissures) of the chewing surfaces on the back teeth, acting as a barrier to protect enamel from plaque and acids, and to prevent from teeth decaying.
