Generally, the first teeth usually start to emerge around 6 months of age. However, they may appear earlier. Some children are born with one or two teeth. In other cases, the first teeth don’t emerge until 14 months of age.
First Teeth Eruption
Teeth begin to develop months or even years before they break through a baby’s gum line. In fact, primary tooth buds appear as early as the sixth week of pregnancy, while permanent tooth buds appear around the tenth week. Different parts of the teeth, such as enamel and roots, develop according to a very specific sequence during pregnancy. However, permanent molar buds only develop after birth, around 4 months for the first permanent molars and around 5 years for the second permanent molars.
In most cases, the twenty primary teeth erupt one after the other until about 3 years of age. Their eruption age varies greatly. Generally, they are erupted in the following order:
Upper Jaw
Upper incisors from 7 to 12 months
Upper lateral incisors from 9 to 13 months
Upper first molars from 13 to 19 months
First upper canines from 16 to 22 months
Upper second molars from 25 to 33 months
Lower Jaw
Second lower molars from 20 to 31 months
First lower molars from 12 to 18 months
Lower lateral incisors from 7 to 16 months
Lower incisors from 6 to 10 months
First lower canines from 16 to 23 months
How to Ease Teething Pain?
“`htmlTeething pain varies among children. The eruption of teeth may go unnoticed, especially for the first teeth. In other cases, their appearance may be accompanied by discomfort or irritation. A blue sac on the gum or an increase in saliva secretion may also be noticed when a tooth breaks through. These symptoms typically last about 24 to 48 hours.
Contrary to popular belief, teething does not make a child sick or cause high fever. Rarely is teething the cause of a fever, so it’s best to consult a doctor if a fever occurs.
During teething, a child may bring their hands to their mouth and appear to be experiencing gum itching. There’s no necessary treatment in this case. However, some simple methods will alleviate it:
- Rubbing their gums with a clean finger.
- If they drool excessively and feel the need to bite, give them a clean, wet cloth or a chilled teething ring. Avoid putting the ring in the freezer, where your child could hurt their mouth.
It’s best to avoid:
- Teething biscuits: These are not soothing and can cause tooth decay due to their high sugar content.
- Raw vegetables: They can cause choking. Do not offer very hard pieces of vegetables to your child before the age of two.
Dental Care for Children
Dental care is important from an early age because good dental health will have a positive impact on a child’s life. It will allow them to chew well and thus be able to consume all the food they need to grow properly. Good teeth are also necessary for good language development. Finally, healthy teeth contribute to boosting self-confidence.
You can take your child to the dentist from the age of 1 year, or 6 months after their first tooth appears, to get them accustomed to check-ups.
