Navigating Your Child's Dental Milestones
As a parent, experiencing your child’s ‘firsts’—like their first words, steps, and smiles—is thrilling. However, it can be overwhelming to keep track of all these moments as you adjust to life with a little one. Throughout your baby’s childhood, you’ll encounter several key dental milestones that shape their relationship with oral hygiene and the dentist.
Baby’s First Tooth (6-12 months):
Your child typically gets their first tooth between 6 months and 1 year. Some babies may remain toothless until 18 months, while others may cut teeth earlier. Once that first tooth erupts, start caring for it with a rice-sized amount of toothpaste until age 3.
Establish a dental home by the age of 1. Regular visits every 6 months are essential for monitoring their dental development.
TIP:
While waiting for teeth to grow, establish a routine to introduce oral hygiene. After feeding, use a clean, damp cloth to wipe your baby’s gums. Avoid giving them a bottle at naptime and bedtime to prevent cavities.
Baby’s Full Set of Baby Teeth:
By age 3, your child should have a complete set of 20 baby teeth: 6 molars, 4 central incisors, and 4 canines. During visits, your child may sit on your lap while we examine their teeth and apply fluoride.
For oral hygiene, hold your child’s head in your lap while brushing their teeth in small circles for 60-90 seconds with age-appropriate toothpaste. Limit fruit juice to 4 ounces daily.
TIP:
If your child resists brushing, use a phone or TV as a distraction. Make it a two-parent activity to help them adjust.
TIP 2:
If your child shows interest in brushing, let them try without toothpaste. Afterward, brush their teeth with a small amount of toothpaste.
Baby’s First Loose Tooth:
Children usually experience their first loose tooth around age 6. By this time, they can start brushing their teeth with mild supervision. Dental visits will focus on their growing independence and may include digital x-rays to monitor adult teeth development.
TIP:
Incorporate dental floss into your nighttime routine to prevent cavities. If your child struggles with thumb-sucking or pacifiers, encourage them to choose between quitting or participating in family activities. This choice empowers them to break the habit.
Baby’s First Adult Tooth
During this period, your child will lose baby teeth and grow adult teeth. This is crucial for establishing good oral hygiene habits, as they will only have one set of adult teeth. Dental visits will assess new teeth and jaw development, determining if early orthodontic treatment is necessary.
TIP:
To prevent cavities, limit sugary drinks and ensure daily brushing and flossing. By ages 7-8, we can evaluate how your child’s adult teeth will align and whether orthodontic treatment may be needed.
By the age of 12-13
By age 12-13, your child should have most, if not all, of their adult teeth. Regular checkups will help ensure they develop good hygiene habits, including daily brushing and flossing. During these visits, we will evaluate their teeth and jaw to see if braces are needed.
In their teen years, wisdom teeth may develop. These third molars appear between ages 16-21 and can sometimes impact existing teeth. We will monitor their x-rays to determine if removal is necessary, typically between ages 18-24.
The future
Once your child reaches adulthood and completes these dental milestones, they can continue to visit us for care. We are here for your family from the beginning to the end, serving as your trusted dental home. This revised version reduces sentence length and passive voice usage while keeping the content informative and engaging. Don’t forget to visit our Facebook!
14313 NE 20th Ave, Suite A101
Vancouver, WA 98686