Dental Milestones: From Baby Teeth to Molars

The main reason is because those little chompers don’t come out all at once. (Wouldn’t that be nice!)  No, those 20 pearly whites that are waiting patiently in your newborn baby’s gums take a very slow path up to the surface starting around 6 months of age and not ending until close to 3 years old.

Most teething babies experience increased salivation and a desire to put their hands and fingers (and anything else for that matter) in their mouths.  Worse, they may be irritable and sleeping and eating poorly.  The most telltale sign that a tooth is actually on its way is when you can see the swelling of the gums in the shape of a tooth.  Don’t be afraid to look in your child’s mouth.  After meals, take the same washcloth used to clean their faces and use your index finger to gently massage and clean their gums.  If you do this daily, you will be able to recognize the swelling and know that the tooth is finally on its way!

Fever and diarrhea have been largely debated as possible symptoms of teething.  Many well-supported studies have found no relationship between teething and fever, but moms will tell you a different story.  Many moms, myself included, talk about low grade fever and tummy troubles when their babies are teething.  However, it is very important not to attribute a fever to “merely teething.”  Fevers, especially in very young babies, can be dangerous and you should always consult your pediatrician if your little one has a fever.

I am often asked questions about timing of baby teeth.  “My son is 1 and has no teeth!” or “My daughter has 3 teeth and she’s 6 months!”  The early bloomers may have their first tooth at 3 months and late bloomers not until after their first birthday.  Not all babies are created equally.  The only book your baby may follow in terms of dental milestones is his own baby book, and that’s okay.

Comfort your little one by giving him something to chew on such as a cooled teething toy or cooled washcloth.  Massaging your child’s gums for them can be a great relief for some babies.  After all, that is what they are trying to do with their fingers in their mouth anyway.  If nothing helps, Infants’ Advil® may ease their discomfort and allow for better sleep, but be careful not to overuse it and remember it stays in your child’s body for up to 8 hours.  Most importantly, over-the-counter teething gels to numb the gums are no longer recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.  According to the FDA, ingesting the main ingredient, lidocaine, may be harmful to babies.

After your child gets her last baby tooth, you have about 3-4 years before any more changes happen.  Mobility of that first baby tooth around age 6 or 7 is the signal that your child is moving from early childhood to middle childhood. Remember, if your child was a late bloomer with baby teeth, he will also be a late bloomer with his permanent teeth.  In addition to losing their first baby tooth, your child will be growing 6-year old molars in the back of their mouth and some children will complain with teething-like symptoms.

Besides dental milestones, there are so many important topics to discuss when it comes to your child’s oral health.  This is why it is recommended that your baby's first dental visit should be around their first birthday.  Your child’s pediatric dentist will guide you in terms of how to care for your infant’s oral health, how to prevent cavities, what to do about thumb sucking, and what to do in case of a dental emergency.  The earlier the dental visit, the greater the odds of cavity prevention and a lifetime of happy smiles!

Dr. Christina Ciano is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist who opened her office, Montgomery Pediatric Dentistry, on the border of Montgomery and Princeton, NJ.  She completed her pediatric dental training at Columbia University/New York Presbyterian Hospital.  Please visit her website at www.mpdsmiles.com.