Understanding Your Child's Fluoride Needs
Ensuring your child gets enough fluoride is an important part of preventing cavities. Learn more about fluoride and why it’s so important for your child.
5 Pediatric Dental Milestones Every Parent Should Track
As your child grows up, you get to watch them grow and hit all kinds of developmental milestones. Many of those changes occur in their mouths.
Tracking your child’s dental milestones helps ensure their oral development is on track and keeps you up-to-date with pediatric dentistry visits. Discover from pediatric dentists Staci Brunell, DMD, and Priyanka Patel, DMD, of Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry in Yorktown Heights, New York, what five dental milestones every parent should track.
Milestone 1: Getting their first tooth
Your infant isn’t born with any teeth, but that changes faster than you can blink. The most common time for babies to get that tooth is at 6 months, but it can erupt any time between 3 and 12 months.
The first tooth is usually at the front of the mouth, so you should be able to observe it visually. Your child also starts teething shortly before or during their initial tooth eruptions. Symptoms of teething include:
- Swollen gums
- Fussiness
- More crying than usual
When your child gets their first tooth, it’s time for their next exciting milestone: the first visit to the dentist.
Milestone 2: Their first dental visit
Most babies visit the dentist after they get their first tooth. But if your child turns 1 and doesn’t have teeth yet, you should make an appointment anyway.
The first visit with you and your child gives you the opportunity to get to know our team. It usually lasts up to 45 minutes.
This visit is very gentle and includes an examination and brief cleaning of your child’s mouth, gums, and any existing teeth. We also discuss important topics that help you get your child’s oral health on the right track, such as how to brush their teeth and feed them a tooth-healthy diet.
Your child continues to attend well-baby visits every six months until they turn two years old. After age 2, these important preventive appointments become dental cleanings.
Milestone 3: Gaining all their baby teeth
Once they get their first tooth, your baby’s additional baby teeth start coming in quickly. Usually, they get their central incisors, or front upper and lower teeth, first.
By 18 months old, you can expect your child to gain their lateral incisors and canines on the side of their teeth. Their back molars are usually all in place by 33 months.
As all 20 of these teeth grow in, our team shows you how to brush and care for them properly. Keeping baby teeth healthy is just as important as caring for adult teeth.
Milestone 4: Losing their first baby tooth
For the next few years, your child has a full set of baby teeth. But it’s not much later that they can expect their first visit from the tooth fairy.
By age 4, your child’s jaw starts to enlarge so they can accommodate a full set of adult teeth. Baby teeth typically fall out between 6 and 12 years old.
The front teeth tend to come out first, followed by the incisors and canines. The back molars are usually the last to go.
Most teeth loosen and come out easily on their own. But if your child has trouble, or a baby tooth isn’t falling out on its own, we can help.
Milestone 5: Getting a full set of adult teeth
After their baby teeth fall out, your child’s adult teeth start growing in. A full set of adult teeth includes 32 teeth.
For several years, your child has had a mixture of baby and adult teeth. The last adult teeth, the 12-year molars, come in at 12-13 years old.
As your child loses baby teeth and gains adult teeth, taking good care of these permanent teeth becomes even more important. Your tween or teen is also at the perfect age to begin any necessary orthodontic treatment.
From their first tooth to adulthood, our team is here to guide you and your child through every step of their dental journey. Contact us to schedule their next appointment.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Tips and Tricks to Make Brushing Fun For Your Child
When your child enjoys brushing and looks forward to it, it makes it much easier for them to maintain their routine. Try these tips to help your kid enjoy brushing their teeth.
Caring Smiles For Every Child: What A Special Needs Pediatric Dentist Visit Looks Like
When your child has special needs, anxiety about going to the dentist can be heightened even more. This is how the dental team keeps your child with special needs comfortable and happy during a pediatric dental visit.
Why Would a Child Need a Tooth Extraction?
In addition to naturally losing baby teeth, your child can sometimes need a tooth extraction. Find out the most common reasons for a pediatric tooth extraction.
Is Your Child's Valentine's Day Candy Causing Cavities?
The sweets that accompany the love in the air on Valentine's Day can do a number on your child’s teeth. Taking a few sensible measures helps. Follow these tips to help your child enjoy a cavity-free Valentine's Day.
New Year, New Smile: 3 Resolutions for Your Child's Dental Health
There’s no better time than the new year to make new or renewed commitments to helping your child maintain their beautiful smile for life. We recommend starting with these 3 New Year’s resolutions to support your child’s dental health.