Are my child’s teeth growing normally?

Our children’s bodies undergo so many rapid changes as they grow and develop. Their teeth are no exception and come with many rites of passage, such as sprouting their first tooth and getting a visit from the tooth fairy for the first time. Below is a handy guide of when to expect certain changes in your child’s teeth, some tips on how to best take care of them and what to look out for. At Limitless Dental, we’re passionate about starting healthy dental habits from a young age, as this is the foundation for the rest of their lives. Give us a call on 9569 8091 or book online if you need your child’s teeth checked.

Baby (0-2 years old)

This age comes with a lot of firsts. Teething is usually categorised as a mood-dampener amongst all the happy ‘first times’, but luckily a baby’s toothy grin is very cute. All of their teeth are developed in utero within the jaws and skull, and have a set timeframe for when they appear (“erupt”). Generally speaking, the first teeth will appear when they start solids around 6 months of age and continue until they’re 3. All babies develop differently, so don’t be alarmed if your baby starts growing teeth earlier or later.

Tips on taking care of baby’s teeth 

• Get them forming healthy dental habits early by wiping the gums and mouth with a wet, soft cloth after each feed (whether that be breastmilk or formula) – this may help familiarise themselves with that cleaning sensation
• Teething is usually accompanied with grizzly discomfort and a few (or a lot of) sleepless nights; help soothe them with children’s pain medication, teething toys, frozen wet cloths to chew on and plenty of cuddles
• Once they’re starting solids and have had their first teeth erupt, you can progress to a soft or silicone toothbrush to maintain baby’s oral hygiene
• Role play brushing teeth with their favourite toys or in front of the mirror with you and keep it fun
• Avoid putting baby to sleep with a bottle of formula or milk and limit intake of sugary drinks

Things to look out for – see a dentist if anything concerns you

• If teeth appear crowded as more erupt, this may indicate that their jaw may not be growing correctly in a way that will allow for space for adult teeth later in their childhood
• Enamel in baby teeth (outer layer that protects teeth) are thinner than in adult teeth, so they may be more prone to cavities and decay
• Tongue-ties are also an issue which can impact a baby’s ability to breastfeed, speech development, eating solids development 

Toddler (3-5 years old)

Toddlers are a handful, there’s no doubt about it. But thankfully to offset this period of time, their baby teeth should all have erupted, so no more teething pains! However, it’s an important time to get consistent oral hygiene habits set up. There’s a common misconception that baby teeth don’t need to be cared for as they’ll lose them eventually, however you run the risk of decay and infection spreading to their gums and impacting the growth of their adult teeth if their baby tooth gets cavities.

You should start having regular visits to the dentist to ensure your little ones are used to the environment, as well as to allow for any small issues to be picked up early. The last thing we want is for major dental work to have to be done while they’re so little.

Tips on taking care of toddler’s teeth

• Limit the frequency of sugary food and drinks – for example, constantly sipping on small amounts of juice will impact a toddler’s teeth more so than gulping down a full cup of juice in one go because of the constant exposure to sugar
• Empower your little one to take care of their teeth by letting them choose their own toothbrush each time it needs to be replaced 
• Use a small pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste, as they may still be developing their ability to thoroughly spit out toothpaste (excess fluoride consumption may lead to dental fluorosis)
• It is still recommended that parents do a once-over brush after their toddlers have brushed their own teeth to make sure that it’s been properly cleaned – keep an eye out for the back teeth as they’re harder to reach

Things to look out for – see a dentist if anything concerns you

• There may be some children who have missing baby teeth or teeth that have never erupted; if it appears that your toddler is missing a tooth, get them in to see a dentist for an x-ray to assess the situation – you may be referred to a specialist for management 
• Dental emergencies are common in this age group as toddlers are prone to injuring their teeth from falls and bumps – even if nothing appears to be broken, it’s a good idea for a dentist to rule out any internal damage to the tooth

Child (6-12 years old)

Equally as exciting as growing their first tooth is your child losing their first baby teeth around the age of 6. Our tip is to not go too high with what they may receive from the tooth fairy, as there are 19 other baby teeth that will fall out as they head towards teenage years. 

With their adult (permanent) teeth coming through over the next 6-7 years, including 12 new sets of molars, it’s important to double down on brushing their teeth twice a day and maintaining consistent dental hygiene habits. 

Tips on taking care of your child’s teeth

• With loose, wiggly teeth being a constant feature of their day-to-day, ensure they brush regularly to prevent damage to their adult teeth as they emerge
• Tooth decay, holes and gingivitis are common in this age group if oral hygiene isn’t maintained, so any sign of a toothache or sore jaw should be looked at by the dentist as soon as possible
• It’s recommended to introduce flossing each night when they’re about 7 or 8 years old
• Dental sealants are also recommended, which are a thin plastic coating that the dentist can apply over the grooves of children’s back teeth to prevent build up of plaque on chewing surfaces of teeth 

Things to look out for – see a dentist if anything concerns you

• If your child’s baby teeth haven’t started falling out by the time they’re 7 years old, you’ll need to see the dentist to assess
• Keep an eye out for ectopic eruptions, where adult teeth may start growing in the wrong location – this may be due to poor jaw growth, which limits the space for adult teeth to appear
• Early intervention can be made if you notice crowding as more adult teeth come through – there are non-invasive early orthodontic treatments that can be implemented in this age group that may mean your child can avoid braces in the future

Teenagers (12-18 years old)

By the time they’ve entered high school, most kids will have grown all of their adult teeth, with the exception of wisdom teeth which usually appear after they’re 18 years old. Dental care in this age group is equally as important to help set them up for adult years.

Tips on taking care of your teen’s teeth

• Introducing an electric toothbrush is handy around this age to get them interested in brushing their teeth twice a day
• Dental sealants are also recommended, which are a thin plastic coating that the dentist can apply over the grooves of their back teeth to prevent build up of plaque on chewing surfaces of teeth 

Things to look out for – see a dentist if anything concerns you

• Orthodontic treatment is usually sought out at this age if early intervention hasn’t been taken for crowded teeth
• Wisdom teeth may appear earlier than 18 years of age and if the jaw doesn’t have appropriate space for them, this may lead to impaction and potential infection if not treated early