Parenting has many surprises (hello, 2 a.m. diaper changes, and epic toddler meltdowns). But you don’t want your kid\u2019s first cavity to be one of them. Baby teeth might be small, but they play a big role in their health. Caring for your child’s teeth from the beginning can help set your little one up for a lifetime of healthy smiles.<\/p>\n
Let’s explore the journey of teeth, from those first pearly whites to the grown-up set, with tips and advice to make caring for them manageable\u2014and maybe even a little fun!<\/p>\n
Babies are born with a set of teeth hidden under the gums, and soon, they start popping out. Here’s how the timeline usually plays out:<\/p>\n
Most babies will grow their first tooth\u2014usually one of the bottom front teeth\u2014by about six months. Expect some drooling and gnawing, but most babies have an easy time with teething. I like to tell parents that teething usually just causes one thing \u2013 teeth! If your baby seems uncomfortable, give them hard teething toys and rub their gums. If they need medicine, use some acetaminophen, but skip any numbing gels placed on their gums \u2013 these can easily be overused since babies can’t spit them out.<\/p>\n
Most kids have a full set of 20 baby teeth by their third birthday. These are smaller but just as important as the adult ones.<\/p>\n
Baby teeth start to fall out as adult ones push through. The front teeth usually go first (get ready to play Tooth Fairy!) and are replaced by permanent teeth over several years.<\/p>\n
Most kids will have 28 permanent chompers by their teens, with wisdom teeth possibly appearing in their late teens or early twenties, if they come in at all.<\/p>\n
Grand Total? 32! That’s right, fully-grown humans have 32 teeth (counting those wisdom teeth).<\/p>\n
Baby teeth may be temporary, but they play a big role<\/a> in helping kids chew, speak, and hold space for the adult ones. Follow these tips from the start to set the stage for a healthy smile:<\/p>\n 1. Start early<\/strong><\/p>\n Even before teeth show up, clean your baby’s gums with a clean, wet washcloth after feedings. Once the first one appears, switch to a baby toothbrush with a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste. Since they can’t spit it out, you don’t want more than the size of a grain of rice. However, even a small amount of fluoride is important<\/a> to keep their teeth strong and cavity-free.<\/p>\n 2. Brush twice a day<\/strong><\/p>\n Cleaning teeth after breakfast and before bed is important and can be fun. Sing a silly toothbrushing song or let your toddler “help” by holding the brush. Some little ones really love brushing! But some really<\/em> don’t. If your child fights brushing, have someone else help hold them while you scrub. Talk with your child to let them know how important brushing is and keep up the routine \u2013 no matter how much they fuss. Soon, they will stop and usually even begin to have fun.<\/p>\n