How do your child’s teeth develop?

From the moment your child is conceived, his teeth are developing in his mouth. According to Board Certified Pediatric Dentist Dr. Yury Slepak of the Brooklyn Pediatric Dentistry, knowing how your child’s teeth develop throughout his life will help you teach him how to properly care for his mouth.

Before your child is born, teeth buds for both primary and permanent teeth have developed in his jaw. However, your child’s teeth continue to develop after birth as well. Your child’s first primary or baby teeth should appear around six months of age. Usually lower teeth appear about two months before the upper teeth. By the time your child is two and a half, he should have a full complement of primary teeth, 20 in total – 10 on top and 10 on bottom. You’ll begin to notice that spaces appear between your child’s teeth. This happens because his jaw is growing, allowing room for his permanent teeth.

Around the age of five, the first permanent molars appear behind the primary teeth. No teeth fall out to make room for the first molars, so often parents don’t know these teeth have erupted. Over the next few years, the primary teeth will begin to fall out, being replaced by the permanent teeth. Around the age of eleven, the second set of permanent molars will erupt.

The final teeth to appear are the third molars or wisdom teeth. In some children, the wisdom teeth never form, but in others, it requires removal when they become teenagers.

It’s important to teach your child about proper brushing from the moment his first tooth appears. Caring for one’s mouth is essential for good health and oral hygiene.