PT Health Life – Like permanent teeth, baby teeth also have important functions for a child’s development, especially the ability to chew and help children pronounce correctly. What should you pay attention to when teething and changing teeth?
The time when children replace baby teeth often depends on the child’s physical condition as well as the parents’ way of caring for their child’s teeth. However, children changing their teeth too early is not a good sign and can affect the aesthetics and bite of their teeth later on. Therefore, parents should not be subjective, take care of their children’s teeth from an early age, so that when they grow up they will have beautiful, healthy teeth.
1. Time of baby teeth eruption in children
Normally, a child’s first baby tooth will erupt when the child is 6 months old. Most children have all 20 baby teeth (10 on the upper jaw and 10 on the lower jaw) before they turn 3 years old. Then the baby teeth will gradually fall out and be replaced by corresponding permanent teeth. The time and speed of growth of baby teeth and replacement of permanent teeth is different for each child. If they appear a few months earlier or later, it is still normal. So parents, don’t worry too much.
The time it takes for baby teeth to grow is different for each child. For some babies, they already have teeth when they are only 4-5 months old. However, in some cases, children begin to have their first teeth appear around 1 year old. Therefore, mothers do not need to worry too much about children teething a little late
The sequence of teething for children is as follows:
- From 6 to 8 months old: 4 central incisors grow (the 2 lower central incisors grow first, followed by the upper central incisors).
- From 9 to 12 months old: 4 lateral incisors grow.
- From 12 – 15 months old: 4 first molars grow.
- From 18 – 21 months old: 4 milk canines grow.
- From 24 – 30 months old: 4 second molars grow.
2. Time for changing baby teeth and growing permanent teeth
For children when it is time to replace their teeth, the baby tooth roots will dissolve on their own. Baby teeth loosen and fall out so that permanent teeth can grow. The tooth that replaces first will grow first. If the tooth does not fall out on its own, parents should take the child to see a doctor for examination and extraction.
The sequence of tooth replacement in children is as follows:
- From 5 to 7 years old, the permanent central incisors grow, replacing the primary central incisors. At this time, children also grow the first molars, after the second molars (note that these are permanent teeth, not replaceable).
- From 7 to 8 years old, the permanent lateral incisors will grow, replacing the baby lateral incisors.
- From 9 to 10 years old, the first premolars (small molars) grow, replacing the first baby molars.
- From 10 to 11 years old, milk canines are replaced.
- From 11 to 12 years old, the second premolars (premolars) grow, replacing the second baby molars. During this time, children also grow the second molars (molars) after the first molars (these are also permanent teeth, not replaced).
3. Notes for children during the process of growing and changing teeth
During this time, parents need to pay attention to the following things so that their children have beautiful teeth.
- Effectively clean baby teeth
Oral hygiene after meals is always one of the first important things to do for children, this helps to avoid diseases that can cause tooth decay, periodontal disease…
Parents should form in their children the habit of brushing their teeth every day from an early age. When children are 1-2 years old, parents should proactively brush their children’s teeth by using soft gauze soaked in warm water or diluted salt water to clean teeth and gums.
By the time the child is 3-6 years old, when the child has started to have molars and is gradually replacing them, parents should help the child form the habit of brushing their own teeth.
From 6 to 9 years old, at this stage adults should monitor children’s dental care to ensure your child brushes their teeth properly and thoroughly.
- Parents need to help children avoid bad habits
Bad habits such as: teeth grinding, mouth breathing, thumb sucking, pushing the teeth with the tongue… in children will lead to buck teeth, underbites, misaligned teeth, crowded or too sparse teeth… causing serious health problems. affects the process of teeth growing in the right position and future aesthetics.
- Limit sweets, hard foods that are hard to chew, and chewing gum
When children reach the time of growing and changing teeth, nutrition is also a very important part of the formation and development of teeth in children. Children need to be supplemented with a diet rich in nutrients such as: Calcium, Flour, Vitamin D, A, B1, C…
When discovering that a child has crooked teeth, parents should take the child to have the baby teeth extracted as soon as possible, so that the permanent teeth have a chance to return to the correct position on the dental arch, avoiding affecting aesthetics and health. the function of teeth in children later in life.
The process of changing children’s teeth takes place over a long period of time. Therefore, parents need to regularly pay attention to dental problems from an early age. A strong, healthy, beautiful set of teeth will be very good for children in the future, and is especially important in communication and later life.
