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Early Dental Care
EARLY DENTAL CARE

Teething

A baby’s first teeth usually appear between 6–12 months. Gums may be sore and tender until about age 3.

  • Soothe gums by gently rubbing with a clean finger, cold spoon, cold wet cloth, or teething ring.
  • Watch for baby bottle tooth decay—check teeth every two weeks for dull white spots or lines.

Preventing Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

  • Avoid letting babies sleep with a bottle of milk, formula, or juice.
  • If a bottle is needed for comfort, fill it with water or offer a pacifier instead.

Infant’s New Teeth

  • Baby teeth are important for chewing, speaking, jaw development, and guiding permanent teeth.
  • Losing baby teeth too early may require a space maintainer to keep room for permanent teeth.
  • Good dental habits with baby teeth help protect permanent teeth.

Infant Tooth Eruption

  • Teeth start forming before birth.
  • Lower central incisors usually come in first around 4–6 months, followed by upper central incisors.
  • All 20 baby teeth usually appear by age 3.
  • Permanent teeth start erupting around age 6 and continue until about age 21. Adults have 28–32 teeth (including wisdom teeth).

A Child’s First Dental Visit

  • Schedule your child’s first dental visit around their first birthday.
  • The goal is to help your child feel comfortable and build trust with the dental team.

Good Diet and Healthy Teeth

  • A balanced diet supports strong teeth, bones, and gums.
  • Limit sugary and starchy foods.
  • Offer healthy foods like vegetables, low-fat yogurt, and cheese to promote strong teeth.