A Quick Guide to Your Baby's Teeth

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

09 Apr 2007 09:24 AM

Maybe it's just me but I knew all sorts of things about my baby's development. I knew when it was normal to hit all sorts of milestones from the first smile to jumping up and down! But I didn't really know a lot about dental development in infants.

It seems to be somewhat of a forgotten subject. I knew to brush the gums once a day. I knew to brush teeth after meals but when it came to knowing things about the normal eruption of teeth or how many teeth a toddler should have--I drew a blank.

So in case you're like me and have lots of unanswered questions regarding your baby's teeth here is a 'quick guide' to answer all those questions!

My baby is a horrible teether! She seems to be in so much pain when she gets her teeth 2 and 4 at a time! Will she always get teeth in pairs?

Probably. Teeth are supposed to be symmetrical and so yes, babies generally get them in pairs--one on the right and the corresponding one on the left.

My baby's top front teeth came in first! Is this normal?

It's not typical but neither is it abnormal such that you should be concerned. Usually, the bottom two front teeth come in first followed by the top four front teeth.

Are baby teeth really that important? Won't babies lose their teeth anyways?

Yes. Baby teeth play an important role in preparing the mouth for permanent teeth. Most babies will lose their teeth but not all babies lose their teeth. Some babies will actually retain some of their baby teeth through adulthood. Regardless of whether or not your baby will lose their teeth (and she probably will) it is still important to take good care of her teeth and gums. Decay in baby teeth can be passed through the gums to permanent teeth leaving them stained and brittle.

Here is a quick chart to when baby teeth generally erupt:

Central incisor in the lower jaw: 6 to 10 months

Central incisor in the upper jaw: 8 to 12 months

Lateral incisor in the upper jaw: 9 to 13 months

Lateral incisor in the lower jaw: 10 to 16 months

First molar in the upper jaw: 13 to 19 months

First molar in the lower jaw: 14 to 18 months

Canine (cuspid) in the upper jaw: 16 to 22 months Canine (cuspid) in the lower jaw: 17 to 23 months

Second molar in the lower jaw: 23 to 31 months

Second molar in the upper jaw: 25 to 33 months

Also Read:

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Learn more about Valorie Delp

Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

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