First Teeth
- What are first teeth?
- What is eruption?
- What are the signs of teething?
- How to comfort a teething baby.
- When do baby teeth start forming?
- How long does the eruption process last?
- What influences the final positioning of the erupting teeth?
- Are spaces between a baby’s front teeth a cause for concern?
- The eruption chart for baby teeth.
- The calendar of tooth growth and development.
1. What are first teeth?
- They are the baby’s first teeth that are replaced by the permanent or adult teeth.
- First teeth are also called baby teeth, primary teeth or milk teeth.
- Teething is the final stage of the eruption process.
It is during this time that the teeth of infants cut through the gum and become visible in the mouth.
- The baby will eventually have ten teeth in each jaw, making a total of twenty teeth in the mouth.
Teething “cutting through” |
|
1 year later |
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2. What is eruption?
- Eruption is the process during which teeth grow through bone and push through the gum into the mouth.
Permanent tooth growing under baby tooth |
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3. What are the signs of teething?
- The main signs of teething are:
- The gum over the erupting tooth can be swollen and red.
- A spot of blood may be found where the tooth “cuts” through the gum.
- The cheek on the side of the erupting tooth can appear flushed.
- There may be more dribbling than usual.
- The baby has the need to bite on a hard object.
- General irritability.
- Disturbed sleeping patterns.
- Diarrhoea and fever do not necessarily accompany teething.
Red swollen gum over erupting tooth |
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4. How to comfort a teething baby
- Gently massage the gum with a clean finger.
- A dummy (pacifier) may have a soothing effect.
- The baby’s need to bite on something hard can be satisfied with a teething ring or a sugar-free rusk.
- A sugar-free analgesic for babies will lessen the pain and help to settle the baby. Consult your doctor or dentist about analgesics.
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5. When do baby teeth start forming?
- Tooth development starts between the 3rd and 6th months of pregnancy,
- The growth of baby teeth is only completed at the age of 4, when the roots of all the erupted teeth are fully formed.
- The crown of the tooth is the first to develop deep in the jawbone.
- The root formation will only be completed about 18 months after eruption.
- When the crown of a tooth erupts it is covered by a cuticle or covering that protects the enamel.
It is slowly worn away by chewing and toothbrushing.
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6. How long does the eruption process last?
- The eruption of teeth into the mouth occurs between 6 months and 30 months of age.
- The first teeth to erupt are usually the lower front teeth.
- The eruption chart shows the average age at which teeth emerge. This can vary considerably from child to child. See part 9 of this subject.
- The calendar of tooth growth and development will reveal the miracle of tooth growth and development at different ages.
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7. What influences the final positioning of erupting teeth?
- The final position of a tooth is largely influenced by the lips cheeks and tongue:
- The tongue exerts an outward pressure on the teeth.
- The lips and cheeks provide a balancing inward force.
- When biting and chewing takes place, the opposing teeth in the other jaw prevent continued vertical growth of teeth.
- Other influences are thumbsucking and pacifiers:
- The outward pressure of a thumb sucking habit pushes the upper front teeth and jaw forward and out of alignment.
- The extended use of pacifiers or dummies can have the same effect.
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8. Are spaces between a baby’s front teeth a cause for concern?
- It is normal for the front teeth of babies to have spaces between them.
- It is also normal for the front teeth not to be spaced.
- Both of these tooth formations are considered to be satisfactory.
- Spaces between the baby teeth do not necessarily result in the spacing of permanent teeth.
Tooth spacing |
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9. The Eruption Chart for Baby Teeth
UPPER TEETH
TOOTH |
DENTAL NAME |
ERUPTION AGE |
ROOT FULLY FORMED |
A |
CENTRAL INCISOR |
7-9 MONTHS |
20-22 MONTHS |
B |
LATERAL INCISOR |
7-9 MONTHS |
20-22 MONTHS |
C |
CANINE |
17-22 MONTHS |
30-35 MONTHS |
D |
FIRST MOLAR |
12-17 MONTHS |
27-32 MONTHS |
E |
SECOND MOLAR |
24-33 MONTHS |
38-48 MONTHS |
UPPER TEETH |
LOWER TEETH |
LOWER TEETH
TOOTH |
DENTAL NAME |
ERUPTION AGE |
ROOT FULLY FORMED |
A |
CENTRAL INCISOR |
6-8 MONTHS |
18-20 MONTHS |
B |
LATERAL INCISOR |
7-9 MONTHS |
20-22 MONTHS |
C |
CANINE |
17-22 MONTHS |
30-35 MONTHS |
D |
FIRST MOLAR |
12-17 MONTHS |
27-32 MONTHS |
E |
SECOND MOLAR |
24-36 MONTHS |
38-48 MONTHS |
TOOTH GROWTH IS ONLY COMPLETE AFTER THE ROOT IS FULLY FORMED
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10. The Calendar of Tooth Growth and Development
- The calendar shows the stages of development of baby and permanent teeth from the age of 5 months in the womb to 6 years.
- The permanent teeth are made to appear darker than the baby teeth.
- The growth patterns are clearly shown. The crowns of teeth are the first to form, followed by the roots.
- The growth and replacement of teeth is well illustrated. The mixed dentition stage reveals the way baby teeth make space for the permanent teeth to grow into.
Top: 5 Months in utero Bottom: 7 Months in utero |
Top: at birth Bottom: 6 Months |
9 Months |
1 Year |
18 Months |
2 Years |
3 Years |
4 Years |
5 Years |
6 Years |
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See calendar of tooth growth in adults section
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