Babies are actually born with all 20 of their baby teeth already in their jaw line. Just below the gum margins, those little pearlers are waiting to erupt. This fact is contrary to common belief, that the teeth don’t start evolving until the few short months before they emerge.
Even when in utero, your baby’s teeth were already forming from around six week’s gestation. They’ve been sitting waiting for a long time.
Baby teeth are also known as milk teeth, primary teeth and deciduous teeth. Whatever you call them, understand that they are precious and worth looking after.
Most babies start to teethe at around six months of age. By approximately three years of age, all 20 teeth have generally made an appearance.
Like all other stages of development, individual traits play an important role in when to expect teeth to erupt. But as a rule, teething follows a fairly predictable pattern of eruption.
Small age variations are common, though it’s reasonable for parents to feel a little confident about which teeth to expect at what age.
Every Tooth Has a Specific Purpose
Some babies fuss a lot when they’re teething and others don’t seem bothered by it at all. There’s a big variation in teething behaviour.
Your baby may have some or all of these symptoms:
Every tooth develops from separate lobes, each forming a different part of the tooth. Under the gums, these lobes eventually grow together. As the tooth erupts from the gums it can have a serrated or ‘postage stamp’ edge where the lobes have came together. These are called mamelons and are a sign that the right, left and middle lobes have joined.
Some people believe mamelons help baby teeth to cut through the gums. Eventually the mamelons are ground down to a smooth and even surface. Eating, chewing, biting down as well as how the baby’s teeth sit alongside each other, all help to wear down the serrations.
Baby teeth play an important role in being able to chew food easily. Quite apart from eating, one of their most valuable roles is to be place holders for when the permanent teeth come through.
Without the baby teeth minding the correct position for the secondary teeth, there is a risk of misalignment or tooth crowding. The permanent teeth don’t have a template for where they should emerge and instead, overcrowding happens. This is a problem for eating and also causes excessive wear for the teeth. This means uneven wear and tear as individual teeth need to do work they’re not designed for.
Baby teeth also help children to pronounce words properly. Lisps and incorrect pronunciation are common when the tongue doesn’t sit in the right position. Sounds can’t form correctly because the tongue, teeth and gums aren’t in their correct relationship to control air movement.
If you can see a tooth, then it needs cleaning. Removing plaque helps to prevent against infection, cavities (holes) and pain. Decayed baby teeth can also damage permanent teeth.
Use a soft cloth to wipe over your baby’s teeth or, a very soft bristled toothbrush. You don’t need to use toothpaste until around 18 months of age.
Make an appointment with your child health nurse for more information about your baby’s teething. Also speak with your dentist for specific information about your baby’s teething ages and stages.
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For mums who are able to, breastfeeding is best for babies. It delivers many benefits for both mum and baby. Breastmilk contains all the nutrients your growing bub needs to thrive, especially in the first 6 months of life, plus antibodies to help them fight infections.
It’s important for pregnant and breastfeeding mums to maintain good nutrition. Deciding to use a combination of breast and bottle-feeding for an extended period may reduce your own breast milk supply, and reversing your decision may be difficult.
When using infant formula, follow the feeding guide and preparation directions carefully. Improper use or incorrect preparation of infant formula can make your baby ill.
Consult your doctor or health care professional for advice prior to using the formula to feed your baby. You should also consider the social and financial implications before deciding to use infant formula.
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