New parents often have questions about baby teeth. Some parents may become concerned about the timing of their babies’ teeth if the baby is several months old but doesn’t have any teeth yet. Often, parents are concerned about teething and teething pain.
Baby teeth, also called primary teeth, serve many purposes. They help the child chew and speak. They also hold the space in the jaw that will be occupied by the permanent teeth.
The first baby teeth usually come in when the baby is five to seven months old. If a baby begins to get teeth at only a month old or is ten months old and still doesn’t have any teeth, this is not necessarily a problem. Teething occurs at different rates for individual infants.
Though it is unusual, some newborns are born with teeth. Teeth in a newborn can interfere with nursing and the sucking reflex, so they are often removed. These early teeth are often extra teeth and not the infant’s normal baby teeth. The presence of the normal baby teeth under the gums may be verified by x-ray before the teeth are removed.
The two front lower teeth are typically the first to erupt followed by the top front teeth. The order in which these baby teeth come in may vary. The teeth adjacent to the front teeth are next to come in. Then, the canines, also called cuspids, typically come in. In many cases, the molars don’t come in until the child is almost a year old or slightly older.
It is not uncommon for a baby to become fussy during times of teething. There are several over-the-counter teething pain relievers that can be used. Some infant toys are made to help alleviate teething pain. These are sometimes designed to be kept in the refrigerator to provide cool comfort to the inflamed gums.
Baby bottle tooth decay can be a serious problem. Infants with teeth should not be put to bed with a bottle containing anything but pure water. If an infant or toddler has been routinely put to bed with bottles containing formula, juice, or other drinks, the baby teeth become susceptible tooth decay.
