The Teeth of a Newborn Baby – Baby Care

Although the teeth of a newborn baby cannot be seen, they are already developing inside the gums. They usually start to appear sometime during the first year, the average age being 6 months. The parents need not worry if their baby is late in teething. The teeth will come through when they are ready and there is nothing that can be done to hurry them up.

The teeth of newborn babies are so important and are a significant part of our appearance – from care and aesthetic point of view. However, while we are aware that teeth are erupting from our gums, we often overlook the time when teeth begin to grow inside our gums—that is, when teeth start to grow inside the gums of our newborn babies.

Why do teeth start to decay?

One topic that is very interesting from a scientific perspective is the baby’s development. It is always amazing to see how everything is already developing inside the womb. Although you cannot see them, the baby’s teeth are already there. They usually begin to appear during the first year of life, but they will not grow until the kid has got to the age of two or even later.

How do teeth develop?

You might not realize that when you see a newborn baby, they do not have teeth, and they do not have permanent teeth. However, when you look at the gums, you can still see that they have little bumps developing into teeth. These teeth are called deciduous teeth, and they are temporary teeth protecting the gums and teeth which are permanent.

Why are baby teeth important?

Baby teeth are essential to understand the importance of taking care of the teeth early. Having rotten teeth at an early age can cause a lot of damage to the teeth and affect the overall health of a person. This article aims to shed some light on the importance of taking care of the baby teeth in an early stage of a person’s life.

Why do we lose our baby teeth?

Many people are unaware that a child’s teeth begin to develop in the womb and that the baby does not have teeth until they are about a year old. A newborn baby’s teeth, on the other hand, are not visible because they are developing inside the gums. They usually begin to appear during the first year of life.

Order of Appearance Teeth of a Newborn Baby

Milk teeth

20 teeth of a newborn baby in the first set which is called the milk teeth or baby teeth. The first to come through are usually the two teeth in the front of the lower jaw. A month or two later they follow by the two teeth at the front of the upper jaw. All the milk teeth will have appeared by the age of 6 months to 3 years. The diagram shows the order in which the milk teeth generally appear.

Occasionally, a baby is born with a tooth that has already come through. It may need to be removed so if it is loose in the gum that it is in danger of falling out and getting stuck in the baby’s windpipe. If the teeth are removed, there will be a gap in that position until the second set of teeth appears several years later. From the age of 5 onwards, the milk teeth begin to fall out. Before they do this, their roots disappear

Permanent Teeth of a Newborn Baby

The milk teeth are replaced by the permanent teeth of a newborn baby. They start to come through when children are about 6 years old. The 20 milk teeth were replaced by large teeth of the same type. In addition, there are 12 molars – 3 on each side of each jaw. When complete, the permanent set contains 32 teeth.

The first permanent teeth to appear are usually the lower incisors and the first molars. The latter is often called the 6-year molars.  Although the new teeth may appear looking crooked, they usually right themselves in time. Otherwise, they need to be corrected by dental treatment e.g. the wearing of a brace.

Teething

Some babies cut their teeth with no trouble at all. Other babies may be cross- and irritable at such times. Babies may show one or more of the following signs that their teeth are on the way:

Sore Gums Teeth of a Newborn

As a tooth grows, it has to pass through the gums. This process may cause the gums to become sore and painful, making the baby refuse food.

Increased dribbling

Babies seem to dribble more than usual when a tooth is about to come through.

Increased Fist Chewing

Some babies seem to chew their fists more than usual when they are teething.

Red cheek

A bright red patch on one cheek is often linked with a new tooth.

Help for Teething Babies

A baby who is troubled by teething needs to be cuddled and comforted. Efforts should be made to divert the baby’s attention for example by giving him something different to play with going for a walk playing some music or, if old enough, telling a story. The baby may get relief from chewing something hard. For this reason, babies who teething give teething rings, crusts, or rusks on which to chew. Teething jelly is unnecessary. It quickly washes off and, if too much use, may poison the child.

The advice of a doctor need for a child who is in severe pain or very fretful at night.

Teething does not cause illness although teething may make a baby feel wretched, it will not cause illness. There is no way that teething can cause bronchitis, rashes, diarrhea, fever, or convulsions. If any of these conditions appear at the time that the teeth are coming through, they will not be due to teething and need the prompt attention of a doctor.

Effect of Diet on Teeth of Newborn Baby

Items in the diet that build strong, healthy teeth are calcium, fluoride, and vitamins A, C, and D.

Fluoride combines chemically with the enamel of the teeth, making them stronger and more resistant to decay. Children living in areas where the water supply contains fluoride have only about half as much tooth decay as those living in other areas.

When the water supply lacks fluoride, many doctors and dentists recommend that children should be given fluoride daily. Under the age of 3, the fluoride should be given in the form of drops. Older children can be given tablets, crushed if necessary. The use of toothpaste containing fluoride also helps to protect the teeth.

Chewing helps to keep the teeth and gums healthy. Therefore the diet should include foods that need chewing such as crusts, apples, and carrots.

Care After Sweet and Sticky Food

Sweet and sticky foods eating large amounts of sugar encourages tooth decay. This is especially when sugary foods are eaten between meals and in a form that sticks to the teeth.

The mouth always contains bacteria. However well the teeth clean, some bacteria are always left in the mouth. The bacteria themselves do no harm, and indeed, they are essential to keep the mouth healthy.

When the bacteria in the mouth come into contact with sugar they produce acid. It is the acid that dissolves away the enamel and makes holes in the teeth. Sugar remains in the mouth for about half an hour after eating something sweet or even longer if a piece of food such as sticky toffee becomes caught up in the teeth. The longer the time that sugar is in the mouth the greater the chances of tooth decay.

The chances of teeth decay reduce sweets, chocolates, iced lollies, and other sugary foods that are only given to child special occasions. It is also important for them to eat all at one go and not nibble for over several hours.

Cleaning the Teeth of a Newborn Baby

Children are taught to clean their teeth from the age of one year. They should learn to brush them up and down 3nd not across. Also, the inner side of the teeth and the biting surface of

Those at the back need to be clean. The teeth should be brushed before going to bed and preferably after meals as well.

Visiting the Dentist

Children take to the dentist regularly from the age of about 3, they get used to it. They are then likely to go more happily when they are older and the permanent teeth have come through. They will need to have these teeth checked regularly by the dentist if they want to take care of them. The dentist will be able to put right in small defects before they can cause great trouble. Two words used by the dentist are:

Caries

The name for tooth decay

Plaque

An almost invisible layer that is forming on the teeth all the time. Plaque composes mostly of materials from saliva. Cleaning the teeth removes plaque and Leaves the teeth looking white and shiny.

Conclusion

The most important feature of our faces is our teeth. The teeth of newborn babies are an essential aspect of their health, and they must be looked at. The teeth of the infant begin to form in the womb and are evident by the end of the pregnancy. The baby’s teeth are vulnerable, and they should never be touched or harmed. A baby’s teeth were very delicate and easily destroyed for a long time. Teeth begin to form four months after conception and are fully developed by the pregnancy conclusion. The baby’s teeth are called milk teeth because they are still developing until they are six years old. The milk teeth are replaced with permanent teeth around the age of six. Enamel, dentin, and pulp make up the enamel, dentin, and pulp of a baby’s teeth. Enamel protects the baby’s teeth from environmental stimuli and is the most rigid substance in the human body.