Primary And Permanent Teeth: Your Child's Tooth Development

January 14, 2021

Your child’s tooth development starts before birth, but baby teeth don’t erupt (come out of the gums) till your baby is approximately seven months old.

Book an appointment at Kildonan Crossing Dental Centre when your kid starts getting their first teeth in! In the meantime, it’s always good to be prepared for what’s happening in their mouths. Being knowledgeable about their teeth’s growth can help provide them with the best possible ways to cope with any discomfort or pain they may experience throughout their tooth development.

Primary Teeth

Baby teeth start erupting between seven to 12 months old. By the time your child is two or three years old, all their primary or baby teeth should have come in.

If your child is experiencing pain when their teeth are growing, keep these tips and tricks in mind:

  • Rub their gums with a clean finger, the back of a small cool spoon or a damp, clean cloth
  • Talk to your dentist if they continue to be in pain and get a treatment plan that might include over-the-counter medication, if needed
  • Don’t give your child teething biscuits because they may contain sugar and other hidden sweeteners that could make the pain worse
  • Growing teeth does not cause a fever. If your child has a fever , speak to your doctor right away

Permanent Teeth

Primary teeth start to fall out at age six to make room for permanent teeth. This is when primary teeth roots become weak, which makes them fall out. Children continue to lose their primary teeth until they’re about 12 years old. Your child’s first permanent teeth will erupt when they are six or seven years old.

Here’s what to do when they start getting loose and wiggly. It’s fine for children to gently wiggle their loose teeth, but tell them that it’s not okay to use force to pull out a tooth that’s not ready to fall out. Prematurely removing a loose tooth can cause more harm than good and there is much less bleeding if they don’t force it.

When your kids first get their permanent teeth in they can sometimes look yellow compared to primary teeth. This is normal and can be due to a variety of causes including  an accident that hurt a primary tooth or from using too much fluoride.

Children under three generally do not need toothpaste. For children older than three, only a pea-size amount should be used to prevent over fluoridation. Permanent teeth also appear more yellow because there is more dentin (the second layer of the tooth) in permanent teeth, which can be seen under the enamel.

Talking to your dentist early is a good place to start to learn more about their teeth. Every mouth is different so visiting the dentist and having regular checkups is important at a young age.

Kildonan Crossing Dental Centre: Your Partner In Taking Care Of Your Child’s Dental Health

While you play the most important role in ensuring that your kids have excellent oral hygiene and health, we’re here to help.  Brushing twice a day, flossing and encouraging regular dental care is crucial. The earlier these habits are developed, the better for your kids as they get older.

Making an appointment and visiting your dentist will also encourage good oral hygiene habits and help allay any fears of the dentist because your kids will get used to the visits if they happen with regular frequency.

We’re here to take care of your child’s smile today and for many years to come. Together, we can make your child’s permanent teeth last a lifetime through proper care and instilling these good habits. If your child is afraid of the dentist, we will also see them just for a visit so that they can slowly get used to us. We want to make sure that they’re comfortable and feel safe at every visit.  

Schedule regular appointments for your child at Kildonan Crossing Dental Centre. We are a family friendly dental clinic in east Winnipeg (near Transcona) located at Regent and Lagimodiere.