Care of a baby (Tooth development)
The appearance of the first teeth: The first teeth generally emerge around 6 months of age. However, they may appear earlier. Some children are even born with 1 or 2 teeth. In others, the first teeth do not emerge until the age of 14 months.
Teeth begin to develop months or even years before they break through the baby's gums. Indeed, the buds of milk teeth appear from the 6th week of pregnancy, while the buds of permanent teeth are present from the 10th week.
The different parts of the tooth, such as the enamel and the root, will then develop in a specific sequence during pregnancy. However, the buds of permanent molars only develop around birth for the first permanent molars and around 30 months for the second permanent molars. In the majority of cases, the 20 primary teeth (milk teeth) will erupt one after the other until around 3 years old.
Their age of onset varies greatly. Teething can happen very quickly in some children and last over 2 to 3 years for others. In general, however, primary teeth emerge in the following order:
If your child is getting his or her teeth and seems to be in pain, you can:
- rub the gums with a clean finger, or
- rub the gums with the back of a small, cool spoon.
- If your child is still unhappy, your dentist, pharmacist or doctor can suggest an over-the-counter medicine to ease the pain.
Here's what you should not do:
- Do not use the kind of painkiller that can be rubbed on your child's gums. Your child may swallow it.
- Do not give your child teething biscuits. They may have sugar added or contain hidden sugars.
- Do not ignore a fever. Getting new teeth does not make babies sick or give them a fever. If your child has a fever, check with your doctor.
Teething
Symptoms of teething: Teething manifests itself in much the same way, regardless of the tooth. However, it can be more impressive for the incisors since it is more visible.
- Your child: salivates a lot and tends to bite;
- Your baby is more irritable and cries easily;
- Has red cheeks;
- Eats and sleeps less well than usual;
- May have a low fever;
- Has slightly swollen gums;
- Has a small blue bubble on the gum – an “eruption cyst” – announcing the imminent emergence of a tooth.
How to relief your child during teething?
The pain associated with teething varies between children. Erupting teeth can go unnoticed, especially for the first teeth. In other cases, their appearance may be accompanied by discomfort. Symptoms last about 24 to 48 hours.
Teething does not require any special treatments. However, do not hesitate to comfort and cuddle your child when one of his teeth erupts
The following treatments will help you relieve discomfort.
- Gently rub his gums with a wash cloth soaked in cold water wrapped around your finger. Remember to wash your hands well first.
- You can let your baby chew the wash cloth under your supervision.
- You can also massage his gums very gently with a baby toothbrush with very soft bristles. Use it with great care.
- Give your baby a rubber teeter that is unbreakable, won't crumble, and is too big to fit entirely in his or her mouth. Ideally, its surface should be textured. Avoid PVC rings and those that contain liquid. You can refrigerate the teeter, but do not freeze it, as your child could injure their mouth. Do not tie the ring with a ribbon around your baby's neck.
- Serve him cold foods. There are mesh bags that you can safely insert frozen fruits or vegetables into. These will soothe your child's sore gums. You can also give him ice pops without added sugar.
- Keep your child's facial skin well hydrated if they have red cheeks. You can apply a moisturizing ointment to his cheeks.
- If necessary, you can give acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol®, Tempra®) to your baby. Follow the directions and respect the recommended doses based on weight and age.
- REMEMBER Never give ibuprofen to a baby younger than 6 months, and never give acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), such as Aspirin®, to a child or teenager.
Permanent Teeth: At age six or seven, the first adult (or permanent) teeth come in. They are known as the "first molars," or the "six-year molars."
They come in at the back of the mouth, behind the last baby (or primary) teeth. Not only that, but they do not replace any primary teeth. Also, at around age six, children start to lose their primary teeth. The roots slowly get weak, and the tooth falls out. Children lose primary teeth until they are about 12 years old.
It's okay for children to wiggle their primary teeth if they are loose. But it's not okay to use force to pull out a tooth that's not ready to come out. When a tooth comes out at the right time, there will be very little bleeding.
Why do the new permanent teeth look yellow?
Permanent teeth often look more yellow than primary teeth. This is normal. But it could also be caused by medicine your child took, by an accident that hurt a primary tooth, or by too much fluoride. Ask your dentist about this when you go for a dental exam.
Healthy Gums
Cavities are the main problem children have with their teeth. But children can get gum disease too, just like adults. It happens when the gums that hold our teeth in place get infected.
Daily brushing and flossing can stop gum disease. If your child's gums bleed, don't stop brushing. If the gums are always swollen, sore or bleeding, there may be a serious problem. You should take your child to the dentist.
Dental Safety
Here are some ways to protect your child's teeth:
- Always use infant car seats and seat belts when you drive.
- Babies will chew on almost anything. Keep them away from hard things that could crack their teeth.
- Children fall a lot when they are learning to walk. Teeth can break, crack, get knocked out or become loose. See your dentist if this happens.
If you have questions about your child's teeth, talk to your dentist.