Our dental clinic is open and you can read our COVID-safe procedures here.
We have unfortunately had to temporarily stop our beauty treatments in line with Government regulations. All existing appointments will be rescheduled.
February 21, 2023
From the moment babies are born, their health and well-being take center stage, and that includes oral health. Most parents know that at some point during their child’s first year of life, the teething process will begin, and with it comes the need to pay close attention, so problems can be handled as soon as they appear. In this article, we take a detailed look at what all parents need to know about baby teeth and gum health.
Yes and no. It’s true that when a baby is born, you can’t see any teeth in their mouth, but they already exist under the gums at the time of birth.Teeth form during the first six weeks of pregnancy, and remain under the gums until they first emerge at around 6 months of age. It’s important to remember this, as the mother’s diet and lifestyle can affect their baby’s oral health later on. This is why during pregnancy, it’s recommended to follow a healthy diet that includes the vitamins and nutrients needed for normal tooth development, including Vitamin A, calcium, protein, and phosphorous.
As we said earlier, teeth are already present under the gums once a baby is born. And beneath their primary teeth lays the foundation for permanent teeth.Due to this, if cavities on primary teeth are not treated, they could create future problems once permanent or adult teeth come in. For example, an infection could develop and spread to the root of permanent teeth.What’s more, an untreated cavity can cause pain and discomfort to the child and interfere with normal eating, speaking, and play routines.
Pediatric dentists specialize in keeping the teeth and gums of babies healthy. You don’t have to wait until teeth-related problems develop – a general checkup is recommended by the time your child is 12 months old or within the six months following the appearance of their first tooth.After that, checkup frequency is determined by the dentist.
Unfortunately, yes. Mild and severe forms of gum disease can appear due to genetics, improper hygiene, certain health conditions, poor diet, and mouth breathing.Symptoms to watch out for include:
To prevent problems, parents are advised to clean their babies’ gums daily, even if teeth haven’t emerged yet. Just use a clean and damp cloth to gently wipe their gums after feeding them.
Teething usually starts at the six-month mark, although some teeth may appear as early as three months.The first primary teeth to erupt will be the lower front teeth. You can see the general guidelines on teething order and timeline here. Please note that these are guidelines and not rules, so it’s normal if some babies teeth sooner, later, or in a different order than the one mentioned in the link above. Teething can be uncomfortable, so expect your baby to be more restless than usual. Normal teething symptoms include:
Certain symptoms are not normal and could suggest there’s a problem. Visit a dentist asap if:
Here are few things parents can do to help soothe teething pain in babies.
If the above doesn’t help, ask your doctor or dentist about over the counter painkillers suitable for babies.
To ensure teeth and gums are healthy, it’s important to follow an oral care routine as soon as possible and even if primary teeth haven’t come in yet.
Final thoughtsTaking care of your baby’s teeth and gums will help ensure they enjoy good oral health during childhood and when they grow up. Remember that your dentist is there to help with advice and answers to all your questions.
24 South Street
Ashby-de-la-Zouch
LE65 1BR
15 The Square
Earls Barton
NN6 0NA
69 High St
Higham Ferrers
Rushden
NN10 8DD
345 Scraptoft Lane
Scraptoft
Leicester
LE7 9SE
33 Coventry Road
Pailton
Rugby
CV23 OQD
TG's Dental Suite - Higham Ferrers, 69 High Street,Rushden,NN10 8DD. Telephone 01933 318481. TG's Dental Care Limited trading as TG's Dental Suite is a credit broker not a lender and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, 685002. Registered in England & Wales 07743679. Registered Address: Pickford House 18 High View Close, Vantage Park, Hamilton, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE4 9LJ.Medenta Finance Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No: 715523. Registered in Scotland, No: SC276679. Registered address: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Tel: 01691 684175. Medenta act as a credit broker, not a lender and will introduce practices to V12 Retail Finance Limited for which Medenta will receive an introduction commission from Secure Trust Bank plc, V12 Retail Finance Limited’s parent company.
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