Baby teeth erupting is a typical aspect of a child’s growth.
In fact, your child will have 20 teeth by the time they are 3 years old!
Naturally, infants will develop the majority of their primary (or “baby”) teeth during the first few years of their lives.
Typically, a baby’s gums have “buds” when they are born.
These 20 teeth will eventually form and erupt in these places.
There are, however, some instances where this procedure doesn’t go as expected.
Your baby’s teeth could erupt improperly or with a noticeable delay, depending on the situation.
Once you are aware of the warning signs, it is critical to speak with your child’s physician or pediatric dentist if you have any worries.
Read on to learn more.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
✅ There are a few risk factors that may raise a baby’s likelihood of being born with teeth in addition to a few medical issues.
✅ Every baby experiences teething in a unique way. Some infants begin to erupt their first teeth as early as 4 to 7 months,
✅ The spacing between teeth and the avoidance of disease may be more crucial than the specific order in which your baby’s teeth erupt.
✅ Although permanent (or “adult”) teeth will eventually replace your baby’s baby teeth, this does not mean that you should disregard how well they are doing now.
✅ Making sure your child’s teeth erupt properly and grow healthily helps guarantee good dental hygiene in the future.
✅ When it comes to your baby’s teeth, it’s recommended to err on the side of caution and call a pediatric dentist if something doesn’t seem right.
Occurrences of teeth in order
Your infant will grow five different types of teeth over the course of the first three years. Your infant will erupt with teeth in the following order.
The middle incisors (front teeth)
The lateral incisors (between the central incisors and canines)
The incisors
Dogs (besides the front molars)
Lateral molars
Typically, babies get their central incisors, or bottom front teeth, first. Teeth can occasionally erupt slightly out of sequence. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that this typically poses little threat.
Timing
Every baby experiences teething in a unique way. Some infants begin to erupt their first teeth as early as 4 to 7 months, while others wait until closer to 9 months or even after becoming 1 year old. A baby could occasionally be born with one or more teeth. A significant factor may be genetics. It’s likely that your child will have early baby teeth if you or your partner did.
Even though eruptions vary, there is a general timeline to remember. Each group’s lower teeth in your baby’s mouth come in first, followed by teeth from a different category that is on the same gum line. The following timeline provides a general idea of when most babies erupt their first set of teeth.
Type of teeth Age the show
Bottom central incisors at 6 to 10 months.
top central incisors: 8 to 12 months
top lateral incisors: 9 to 13 months
Bottom lateral incisors: 10 to 16 months old.
Top of mouth first teeth: 13–19 months
Bottom first molars: 14–18 months
Top dogs: 16 to 22-month-old
Bottom dogs: 17 to 23month old
Second molars on the bottom of the mouth: 23 to 31
Upper second molars: 25–33 months
When your baby first starts gaining teeth, one approach to monitor tooth eruptions is to look for new teeth every four months. For instance, if the bottom central incisors erupt around 6 months, you can anticipate the top incisors to follow at around 4 months.
How to Determine If There Is a Problem
The spacing between teeth and the avoidance of disease may be more crucial than the specific order in which your baby’s teeth erupt. Baby teeth should have enough space between them to accommodate future teeth because they are smaller than permanent teeth. Permanent teeth typically erupt in children starting with the bottom central incisors around the age of six. You should speak with a pediatric dentist if you are worried that your baby’s teeth are erupting too quickly.
Tooth rotting is another problem. Baby teeth, however, are more susceptible to decay. Problems like the following may result from this:
Early tooth decay
Infections
Cellulitis (an infection that occurs and spreads underneath the skin)
Periodontitis (gum disease)
Brown or yellow stains on the teeth
Having trouble eating
Cavities
A low sense of self
Premature babies and those without proper access to healthcare are more likely to experience teething issues. If your infant hasn’t had any tooth eruptions by the age of 18 months, the AAP advises calling a dentist. Soon after turning one, all infants should begin visiting the dentist.
When to Visit a Dentist If Your Baby’s Teeth Aren’t Appearing.
Teething is a typical stage of a baby’s development during the first year of life. Most infants erupt their first teeth between the ages of 4 and 7 months. The central incisors, which are found on the bottom front, are the first teeth to break through the gums.
Some newborns are born with one or more teeth, although the majority of neonates develop their first teeth some months after birth. They are referred to as natal teeth. About 1 in every 2,000 births result in a baby getting its first teeth.
If your kid is born with teeth, it can be unexpected. However, unless the teeth constitute choking hazards or impede with feeding, you shouldn’t be concerned or take any action. Your child’s pediatrician can provide you with advice on what to do.
The prevalence and causes of natal teeth
Natal teeth can be mysterious, but there are some circumstances that can make it more likely that a baby would be born with teeth. These teeth could be present in infants who have a cleft lip or palate. Babies who are born with dentin (the calcified tissues that aid in tooth formation) abnormalities may also have natal teeth.
Underlying medical conditions can result in natal teeth. The following syndromes are among them
Sotos
Hallerman-Streiff
Prince Robin
Iris-van Creveld
Risk Elements for Newborn Teeth
There are a few risk factors that may raise a baby’s likelihood of being born with teeth in addition to a few medical issues. Approximately 15% of infants who are born with teeth have immediate relatives who also had teeth at birth. Parents and siblings are among them.
While there is conflicting research on the relationship between gender and natal teeth, it appears that females are more likely than boys to be born with teeth.
Another risk factor during pregnancy is malnutrition.
Natal Teeth Types
While some newborns do have teeth, the issue isn’t always so straightforward. There are four different natal tooth kinds. Your doctor can identify which condition your infant has by:
A few root structures with fully grown, albeit loose, crowns attached to them.
Teeth that are loose and have no roots at all
A few newly erupted, tiny teeth
Signs that the gums are ready to be sliced by teeth
Most natal tooth instances only affect one tooth. Even more uncommon still is having many teeth from birth. The most frequent front teeth are the lower ones, then the upper ones. Molars are present at birth in less than 1% of infants having natal teeth.
The likelihood of difficulties will depend on the precise sort of teeth your newborn has. This will also assist your doctor in deciding whether or not therapy is required.
Infant teething
Some newborns do not have teeth at birth, but they do shortly after. Neonatal teeth are those that appear shortly after birth and are typically visible within the first month of life.
Neonatal teeth are even more uncommon than natal teeth, claims the journal Pediatrics. In other words, your baby is more likely to have teeth at birth than to develop them a few weeks later (though this is unlikely).
Teething symptoms might appear as early as three months of age. However, in these situations, your kid won’t begin to erupt any real teeth for at least a month. Neonatal teeth emerge so rapidly after delivery that your baby might not display the typical teething symptoms, such as drooling, fussiness, and finger-biting.
If they need treatment, and when to take them to the Dentist
Unloose natal teeth are typically not treated. However, if your child is born with loose, rootless teeth, your doctor can advise having them surgically removed. These natal teeth can increase your baby’s likelihood of developing:
Choking on a loose tooth that was accidentally swallowed
Issues with feeding
Tongue wounds
The harm sustained by mothers during nursing
An X-ray will be used to examine a loose tooth to see if a strong root structure is present. In the absence of such a structure, removal might be required.
Having teeth from birth is unusual, although it is conceivable. Ask your pediatrician if your child has teeth if they are present at birth. Surgery may be required to remove any loose teeth in order to avoid risks and health issues.
You can get assistance from a pediatric dentist as you proceed. Even if there isn’t a problem with your baby’s teeth right away, you should still keep an eye on them to avoid any difficulties.