Tooth Growth

 

All 20 baby (or primary) teeth come in by the time your child is 2 or 3 years old. This chart tells you when baby teeth come in (or erupt) in most children. If you have questions about your child's teeth, talk to your dentist.

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.

At age 6 or 7, the first adult (or permanent) teeth come in. They are known as the "first molars," or the "6-year molars." They come in at the back of the mouth, behind the last baby (or primary) teeth. They do not replace any primary teeth.

Also at around age 6, 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.

The following charts tell you when teeth come in and fall out in most children. If you have questions about your child's teeth, talk to your dentist.