Primary Teeth - Something To Smile About
Your child's first baby
tooth is another milestone in the growth of a child. Parents love
to celebrate the tiny, yet momentous steps that pave a child's healthy
development.
Babies are born with their primary teeth formed underneath the gums,
but they don't start appearing until many months later, usually between
six to seven months after birth; however, there is considerable
variation in the timing. By the time children are three years old, they
usually have a full set of 20
primary teeth.
Around age six, your child's jaws begin growing to make room for the
permanent teeth. The roots of the teeth anchor them in the bone. As the
permanent teeth start
to push their way to the surface, the roots of the baby tooth
dissolve completely and
then the teeth fall out (exfoliate). Eventually,
the roots of each baby tooth lose their anchoring power and are nudged
out.
Each baby tooth should be replaced by a permanent tooth. The growth
that occurs in the back of the jaws creates space for the additional 12
permanent molars.
 
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