Is your child starting to lose their baby teeth? Their permanent teeth will start coming in before you know it! Here are some things to know about permanent teeth and caring for your child’s smile.
Taking Care of Baby Teeth Before Permanent Teeth Erupt
Even though baby teeth are temporary, they play a crucial role in your child’s development. Baby teeth help children learn how to eat solid foods and form words. They also act as a guide for permanent teeth to follow when they erupt at the gum line. Keeping baby teeth healthy, before the permanent teeth come in, can make a big difference in your child’s oral health.
When Do Permanent Teeth Come In?
On average, children begin to lose their teeth between the ages of 5 and 6. After the first primary (baby) tooth is lost, kids will usually lose all of their primary teeth within a six-year period. When their permanent teeth start erupting, the central incisors—front four teeth—are usually the first to come in. Permanent teeth most often come to the surface in the same order that the primary teeth erupted!
How Many Permanent Teeth Are There?
On average, children start out with 20 primary teeth and end up with 32 adult permanent teeth. The 32 adult teeth include four central incisors, four lateral incisors, four canines, eight bicuspids, and twelve molars, including four wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth are the last to erupt and usually come in sometime between the ages of 17 and 21. While some people have room for all four wisdom teeth to erupt, others do not. Our dentists will keep an eye on your child’s teeth and recommend wisdom teeth removal if it is necessary to prevent the wisdom teeth from damaging their other teeth or gums.
How to Care for Permanent Teeth
Permanent teeth are the final set and must be taken care of to ensure a lifetime of great oral health! At your child’s dental visit, our San Antonio dentist will keep an eye on their permanent teeth to ensure that they are healthy and strong. One of the first recommended preventive measures for permanent teeth are dental sealants. Dental sealants seal the natural, hard-to-clean grooves and crevices on permanent molars to prevent food particles and bacteria from getting lodged in them and causing cavities.
Help From Shaenfield Pediatric Dentistry
When your child starts to lose their baby teeth, we’ll be there with you every step of the way! In addition to biannual dental checkups and exams, we can help you encourage your child to take ownership of their new teeth and their oral health. Our team can help your child learn how to properly brush and floss their teeth. With your encouragement, your child can develop a strong at-home oral hygiene routine that will keep their permanent teeth in great shape for a lifetime. Please contact our San Antonio office to schedule your child’s checkup!
