Teething in children: what a young mother should know

From this article you will learn:

• when the first teeth appear
• sequence of teething in children,
• terms for baby and permanent teeth (scheme),
• reasons for delayed eruption.

Teething in children is the process of gradual appearance of tooth crowns above the surface of the gums. Teeth are considered fully erupted when their chewing surface begins to contact the antagonist teeth of the opposite jaw, and the gums cover the crowns of the teeth only in the area of ​​their neck. Eruption always occurs in 2 stages. First, temporary milk teeth erupt, and only when the jaws reach the desired size do permanent teeth appear in place of the fallen milk teeth.

The eruption of primary teeth in a child usually begins at 5-6 months and will continue for up to 24-30 months, and during this time a total of 20 primary teeth will appear. The process of replacing baby teeth with permanent ones begins at the age of 6 years. The eruption of permanent teeth occurs up to 14 years of age inclusive - with the exception of wisdom teeth, which usually appear after 18 years of age. There is a strict sequence of teething in children, which you can see in the diagrams below.

Gums during teething: photo

Traditional symptoms of the eruption of baby teeth are swelling and redness of the gums, increased salivation and drooling, in addition, the child becomes restless and sleeps poorly. Sometimes indigestion and a slight increase in temperature may occur. In some cases, 2-3 weeks before eruption, a lump filled with clear or bluish liquid may appear on the gum, which does not indicate inflammation or any pathology (Fig. 2).

→ How to relieve teething symptoms in a child

How teeth are formed

The appearance of the first tooth is a milestone in a child's development. Now he's almost an adult! After all, his teeth will help him chew solid food and develop speech.

Baby teeth begin to form in the fetus as early as the 6th week of pregnancy. Between the 3rd and 6th months, enamel has already formed on the teeth. All this will be hidden under the gums for the time being. At the same time, deep in the jaw bone there are already the rudiments of molar teeth.

For most children, their first tooth appears between 4 and 7 months, but for some it happens later. With early development, it can erupt at 3 months or earlier. If the child grows normally and has no problems with skin and hair, then it’s okay. But if your baby is already 1.5 years old, and teeth have not appeared, you may need the help of a dentist.

The lower teeth usually appear about a month earlier than the upper teeth.

Approximate order of appearance of baby teeth:

• Lower central incisors (at 6 – 7 months).
• Upper central incisors (at 8 – 9 months).
• Upper lateral incisors (at 9–11 months).
• Lower lateral incisors (at 11 – 13 months).
• Upper small molars (molars) (at 12 – 15 months).
• Lower small molars (molars) (at 12 – 15 months).
• Upper canines (at 16 – 18 months).
• Lower canines (at 18 – 20 months).
• Lower large molars (molars) (at 24 – 30 months).
• Upper large (root) (at 23 – 30 months).

By age 3, your baby should have all 20 teeth, which will last until he is about 6 years old, when his first baby tooth falls out.

Don't be discouraged if your teeth grow crooked at first. Over time they will all fall into place.

Deviations in teething

Minor changes in the timing and sequence of dental growth should not cause alarm. However, significant deviations from the norm in teething are a cause for concern.

1. The tooth does not appear for a long time. Reason: genetic predisposition to long eruption or lack of rudiments.
2. Too early appearance of teeth. Caused by disruption of the endocrine system.
3. Black or brown enamel surface color. Indicates high iron levels, poor salivation, or chronic inflammatory processes in the child’s body.
4. Incorrect row position. Bite pathologies indicate a hereditary factor or deformation of the maxillofacial bone.

How to understand that your baby is teething (symptoms)

Many people believe that the process of teething must necessarily be accompanied by general anxiety of the baby, fever and diarrhea. However, not all experts share this point of view. Some consider this a mere coincidence. There is an opinion that children, when they start teething, are more likely to put dirty objects in their mouths to scratch their gums, and cause an infection.

Some lucky people go through this period painlessly.

But most children still experience some discomfort:

• Anxiety;
• Increased salivation, which can lead to facial irritation;
• The gums swell and become more sensitive;
• Refusal to eat;
• Bad dream.

If your baby has a fever or diarrhea, consult a doctor.

Painful teething: advice for parents

When faced with teething in children, many parents are at a loss. First of all, you need to call an ambulance and determine the reason for the baby’s poor health. If symptoms are confirmed, the specialist will prescribe medications for teething - antipyretics and painkillers.

You can treat your gums yourself with an anesthetic gel with a cooling effect to reduce itching and swelling of the mucous membrane. Ice will also help. To reduce gum irritation, there are special silicone fingertips made of hypoallergenic material.

Folk remedies for teething will effectively relieve painful sensations - a decoction of chamomile, sage, tincture of valerian and honey will soothe inflamed tissues.

Painkillers for teething are contraindicated in children; this can worsen their health.

Important!

Without a doctor's recommendation, antibiotics and other strong teething medications can cause an allergic reaction.

How to help your baby when teething

• Give your baby something to chew on, such as a teether, which can be pre-chilled in the refrigerator.
• Massage your baby's gums with a clean finger. You can first wrap your finger in clean gauze. This will relieve the pain for a while.
• If your baby is already eating solids, give him cool foods (applesauce or yogurt).
• You can give your child something hard to chew on, such as a cracker. Just make sure your baby doesn't choke.
• If all of the above does not help, you can give your child a baby pain reliever or a special teething gel - strictly after consulting a doctor.

Vomiting, runny nose and diarrhea are not always symptoms of teething. If your baby appears unwell, call the doctor.

Formation of permanent bite

The development of permanent teeth is a long and complex process. The formation of permanent teeth begins at approximately 3 years of age, when the child’s primary bite is already fully formed.

Preparations for their eruption are ongoing, but changes occur gradually, so most often we don’t even notice them. Meanwhile, the child:

• jaws grow and expand;
• the distance between baby teeth increases (this is important, since permanent teeth are larger and by the time they erupt there should be enough space for them in the dentition).

Timing of eruption of permanent teeth in children

The order of growth of permanent teeth in children is mainly hereditary. In approximately 50% of cases, the molars (sixes) grow first. Second molars appear at 7-8 years of age. Around the same time, the incisors are replaced.

The first permanent tooth appears in children at 6 years of age, and the complete formation of the permanent dentition of the lower and upper jaw is completed at 12-13 years of age. After this, the roots of permanent teeth continue to form and this process ends by the age of 15.

Teething symptoms

Unlike baby teeth, permanent teeth in children erupt almost always painlessly and with virtually no symptoms.

In rare cases, during the teething period the child’s well-being may deteriorate:

• the child gets tired quickly;
• drowsiness appears;
• gums become inflamed;
• salivation increases, a runny nose appears;
• The gums itch where the tooth grows, and when chewing, painful sensations appear.

Problematic eruption of permanent teeth in children

Problems that may arise during the eruption of permanent (molar) teeth:

• 1

  Growth retardation – after a baby tooth falls out, the permanent one is in no hurry to appear for 6 months or longer.

• 2

  Bite pathology. It may be associated with premature eruption of permanent teeth (if the baby teeth have not yet fallen out), or lack of space on the jaw for normal tooth growth.

• 3

  Hyperdentia - permanent teeth grow second row behind the milk teeth. The reason is the strong fixation of the temporary tooth in the socket, as a result of which the permanent tooth “chooses” a more convenient direction for growth.

• 4

  Caries and its complications.

Choosing a toothpaste and brush

Has your baby cut his first tooth? Congratulations!

• Until one year of age, parents need to brush their baby’s teeth without toothpaste using a special silicone brush placed on their finger at least once a day.
• At one year old, the baby needs to pick up his first children's toothbrush - without toothpaste for now. It is better if the child chooses it himself. She should interest him, but not scare him away.

What should you pay attention to when choosing a children's toothbrush?

• Decor - kids love bright colors and funny characters.
• The handle should be comfortable, preferably made of non-slip material with a protective ring to avoid injury. Its length should correspond to the age of the child.
• It is important that the brush head is not too large and awkward. The optimal size is 2–3 teeth of a child. To avoid damaging your gums, it is better to choose a brush with a rounded head.
• Soft brushes with a bristle height of no more than 11 mm are suitable for children. It should be even so that the pressure on the surface of the teeth is uniform.
• From 2 to 2.5 years old, it’s time to start using toothpaste and teach your child to brush his teeth on his own. You need to choose a special baby toothpaste without fluoride, because the baby may want to eat it. You can switch to fluoride toothpaste when he learns not to swallow it.

Formation of milk bite

The process of building a human bite has 5 stages, and all of them occur in childhood.

Each of the five stages is important for the final formation of the entire dental system and dental occlusion:

The first stage is from birth to 6 months (before the appearance of the first teeth).

The second stage is the period of eruption of all baby teeth in a child (6 months - 3 years).

The third stage is the period of jaw growth, preparation for the natural change of milk teeth to permanent ones (3-6 years).

The fourth stage is the time of active growth of the jaws and the eruption of permanent teeth (6-12 years).

The fifth stage is 12-15 years old, when the child’s baby teeth have already changed and all teeth are permanent.

Correct formation of the primary dentition is one of the main conditions for the development of a correct permanent dentition in a child.

How to brush your teeth correctly

• Your baby's teeth need to be brushed 2 times a day - in the morning and in the evening before bed.
• Use a small amount of toothpaste at first, about the size of a grain of rice, then work up to a pea-sized amount.
• If you use such a small amount of toothpaste, there is no need to rinse your mouth.
• Brush your teeth gently from the outside and inside.
• The tongue also needs to be cleaned, because bacteria accumulate on it, causing bad breath.
• Remember to change your toothbrush every 3 months.

At this stage, it is too early to floss because the teeth are usually far apart.

Formation of the dentition

The article tells how to understand that a child is teething, and about ways to help him with pain and inflammation of the gums. But first, a few words about the process of dentition formation.

The formation of absolutely all teeth occurs in the fifth month of intrauterine development. They remain in a “frozen” state and begin to grow immediately before eruption. Therefore, if a child has no teeth by 9-12 months, radiography is prescribed - a study that allows one to evaluate their formation and location.

Creating a good habit

The habit of brushing your teeth should be established in childhood. If you don’t force your child, but figure out how to turn this activity into an interesting game, your baby will brush his teeth with pleasure. Here are some tips:

• Children love to copy adults, so lead by example by brushing your teeth with your child.
• If you brush your teeth with your baby, at the end open your mouth and show each other how you handled this “task.” If necessary, clean your child's teeth yourself.
• Don't scold him, no matter how badly he cleaned it. Children at this age have not yet developed fine motor skills, so do not expect precise movements from them.
• Let your child associate brushing his teeth with something joyful. Play his favorite children's music, tell him stories about teeth, and draw on a dental theme.
• Keep a piece of paper with a schedule for brushing your teeth. Divide the day into morning and evening (you can draw the sun and moon there) and check the box when you brush your teeth.
• Finally, talk to your child like an adult. Explain to him why brushing his teeth is good. Draw scary microbes on a piece of paper and together figure out how you can fight them.

If your little one refuses to brush his teeth, try buying him a new toothbrush with his favorite cartoon character on it. Get him interested. Get several toothbrushes and let him choose a new one each time.

Possible problems

At the moment the molars appear, certain dental problems are possible. In order to take timely measures to eliminate them, parents must have an idea about them.

Molars do not erupt

A situation is possible in which baby teeth do not fall out in a timely manner, or they have fallen out, but molars have begun to appear in their place. The reason for this must be determined by the dentist, who must be visited without delay. A general x-ray is usually taken to show the degree of development of the molars.

Among the options for the lack of eruption of molars in due time can be indicated:

• Hereditary predisposition, which is the cause of a possible delay in the appearance of molars. If the x-ray shows that the process of forming the rudiments of teeth is underway, then you will just have to wait a little for their appearance.
• Adentia. Disturbances in the processes of formation of tooth germs during the intrauterine development of a child, inflammatory processes can lead to a similar pathology - the absence or death of tooth germs. The solution is prosthetics.

Pain

The first time after teething, the tooth is poorly protected from caries and the effects of various bacteria. This is explained by the low degree of enamel mineralization at the initial stage. Almost nothing interferes with the development of caries; tooth tissue is destroyed, pulpitis occurs, with the subsequent risk of its transition to periodontitis. Severe pain, changes in body temperature and deterioration in well-being may occur.

It is highly advisable not to let the situation get worse, not to cause severe pain, but to visit a dentist as soon as painful sensations appear. If a child is predisposed to caries, it is better to carry out preventive procedures, for example, fissure sealing. The folds on the chewing surface are covered with a composite material that protects such natural cavities from the accumulation of food debris in them, the development of bacteria, and inflammatory processes.

In the worst case, you can lose a tooth.

Teeth grow crooked

A common situation is when the molar has already begun to erupt, but the baby tooth does not want to fall out. The result is that the new tooth seeks alternative growth paths, which leads to its displacement and change in the direction of growth. Hence the malocclusion and the alignment of the dentition. Treatment by an orthodontist will be required.

If this situation occurs, you should not remove or loosen a baby tooth yourself; you should visit a doctor.

Loss of molars

An alarming symptom of the presence of diseases (caries, etc.) in the oral cavity, or there are problems with the entire body (connective tissue diseases, diabetes, etc.). A visit to the doctor is mandatory.

This is necessary to develop a strategy for restoring a lost tooth. This is necessary for the proper growth of the remaining teeth and the formation of the maxillofacial system. Considering that the jaw tissue is still in the process of growth, prosthetics are only possible temporary, which must be adjusted as the jaws develop. Permanent prosthetics will be available only after their formation is completed.

Injuries

The first few years after teething, teeth are at increased risk of injury from impact. Sports injuries, falls, and blows can lead to chipping of parts of the tooth and cracks. Be sure to contact a dentist who will restore the lost part with modern materials.

What microelements are needed for teeth growth?

Fluorine

Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel, making it more resistant to acids and harmful bacteria. Thus, it helps prevent the development of caries.

Fluorine is found in:

• Toothpaste - however, remember that toothpaste with a small fluoride content can only be used by children over 4 years old;
• Fluoride-enriched water;
• Chewable tablets or drops;
• Some fruit juices.

Remember that too much fluoride can lead to fluorosis, which is when white spots appear on the teeth. Therefore, it is important not to use too much toothpaste, especially if the child has not yet learned to spit it out.

Calcium

Calcium takes an active part in the mineralization of teeth. A 3-year-old child should receive 800–1100 mg of calcium per day.

Products containing calcium:

• Milk, yogurt;
• Spinach and other green leafy vegetables;
• Broccoli;
• Fish.

In order for calcium to be better absorbed, it needs helpers. One is vitamin D and the other is vitamin K2.

Vitamin K

Calcium is collected and transported into bone tissue using the protein osteocalcin, which normally “dormants” peacefully in the blood. In order to activate it, you need natural vitamin K. It is found in dairy products (milk, yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese - for example, Agusha K2 cottage cheese).

The structure of human teeth

Teeth are not only intended for mechanical processing of food, but are also necessary for the formation of speech, breathing, and influence facial features. To navigate what dentists advise, how to take care of your teeth, and what the risks of disease are, it is useful to know how they work.

Anatomical structure

3 parts that make up a tooth:

• Crown. The visible part of the tooth used for chewing. The outside is covered with durable enamel, which protects it from bacteria, chemicals contained in food, water, and saliva. The surfaces have their own names: Facial (vestibular) - in contact with the lip or cheek.
• Lingual (lingual) – the opposite of the facial, involved in the formation of speech.
• Occlusion – the upper surface in contact with the tooth of the opposing jaw.
• Contact (approximal) – contacts with adjacent teeth.

Milk teeth, having a largely similar structure, also have differences in anatomy:

• They are noticeably smaller in height than permanent ones.
• The crown is much wider than the root.
• Enamel is thinner and more fragile.
• The roots are more round.
• The wear of baby teeth, as well as their spontaneous loss, is a normal physiological process.

Histological structure

The structure has several layers:

• Enamel is the most durable fabric. When a tooth just erupts, a cuticle is located on it, which is gradually, under the influence of saliva, replaced by a pellicle.
• Dentin is a highly mineralized tissue that resembles bone, but has better mechanical strength. Instead of enamel, the root part of the dentin is covered with cement.
• The pulp, the central part of the tooth, is a soft connective tissue containing a large number of blood vessels. Caries and inflammatory processes “owe” pain to the pulp with its large number of nerve endings.

Milk teeth are distinguished by dentin with a lesser degree of mineralization, which weakens their protection against caries. The volume of pulp occupies most of the tooth, and small protective layers (enamel and dentin) provide less protection against the penetration of bacteria and the development of inflammatory processes.

Types of teeth

There are 4 groups:

• Incisors. 4 chisel-shaped cutters. The largest are a pair of upper central incisors, and the situation is opposite from below - the lateral incisors are slightly larger than the central ones.
• Fangs. 2 on the upper and the same number on the lower jaw. Their length is longer than the others, the front wall is convex.
• Premolars. There are 8 in total, prismatic in shape, the upper surface with two tubercles (buccal and lingual). Premolars have 2 roots. The second premolar has a larger buccal surface. There are no primary premolars.
• Molars. The first molar (molar) is the largest tooth in the upper jaw. The chewing surface has four tubercles, 3 roots. The cubic-shaped second molar is smaller, and the buccal tubercles are larger than the lingual ones. The third (“wisdom tooth”) is in many ways similar to the second, but not everyone has it.

When should I take my child to the dentist?

The Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation recommends showing a child to the dentist once a year starting from 12 months.

The purpose of the first trip to the dentist is prevention. The doctor checks whether teeth are growing correctly and gives recommendations on oral hygiene. It is better to do this no later than your first birthday, so that the specialist does not miss caries and possible problems with your bite.

The first trip to the dentist should not frighten your child.

Here are some tips to make it painless:

• Do not pay too much attention to this event, do not prepare your child on purpose;
• Don’t worry yourself so that your baby doesn’t get nervous along with you;
• If possible, arrive early to your appointment to give your baby time to look around.

How to keep children's primary and permanent teeth healthy?

Both baby and molar teeth of a child require careful care. The health of future permanent teeth depends on how healthy the child's baby teeth were. The main concern of parents is quality care, timely treatment and preservation of baby teeth until the time comes for their natural replacement with permanent ones.

What should you do for this?

• Carefully monitor the condition of your baby’s teeth and regularly take him for examinations to the dentist in order to diagnose caries in time.

Prevention of caries is one of the main conditions for the health of a child’s future permanent teeth. You can protect your teeth by ensuring regular high-quality oral hygiene. One of the most effective measures to prevent caries in children is the dental procedure of sealing the fissures of baby teeth.

• Treat caries in a timely manner.

Unfortunately, temporary teeth have very thin enamel and not a very dense structure, so when affected by a carious infection, they are quickly destroyed. With timely diagnosis, caries is treated quickly and without complications - in dentistry, baby teeth are filled with safe materials. Thanks to modern materials and technologies in dentistry, it is even possible to restore baby teeth with severe destruction. In some cases, if the baby tooth could not be saved, and there is still a lot of time left before the permanent teeth erupt, prosthetics of temporary teeth is used.

• Take care of proper nutrition.

Food is an important source of useful vitamins and microelements, so it is important that the child’s diet is varied and balanced.

Both baby and molar teeth of a child require careful care. The habit of brushing teeth and observing the rules of oral hygiene is formed in children from the appearance of their first teeth. Maintaining the health of children's teeth requires very little time and effort, but all this effort will help your child keep his teeth healthy for a long time!