Developmental Milestones

Developmental milestone charts are everywhere at your doctor’s office. You know exactly when your baby is going to crawl, take their first step, and what their weight is supposed to be and you probably wait for that special day when you hear their first words. But vital information is missing from these lists. When are they supposed to get their first teeth? How many are they supposed to have and what do you do if their teeth are spread apart or begin to decay.

In the womb, when everything else is developing, their first teeth begin to also grow. Your baby, when born, actually has what are called, “tooth buds,” says Dr. Cameron Fuller, pediatric dentist at Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands and Associates.  It is not very common for babies to be born with a tooth or two however; it is not unheard of. Typically, the development of their first teeth breaks skin at seven or eight months.  You may see the tip of a tooth as early as three months or as late as one year. This is a wide range and there is nothing to be concerned about if your daughter’s teeth haven’t come in yet.

Oral health care habits are important in these first few months.  You will want to use a small gum towel to wipe off the gums after your child drinks milk, especially if they are drinking from a bottle or Sippy cup. The longer that milk sits on the gums, the more likely they are to develop, “bottle rot.”

By your child’s first birthday you will want to have already visited the dentist and should continue with regular healthy oral habits and periodic visits. The first full set of teeth your child will have is generally complete around the age of three. Protecting children’s baby teeth is critical as it isn’t until around the age of six or seven when they begin to loose the baby teeth and their permanent teeth take over.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s oral development, contact Dr. Fuller and his team today.