Your son is growing up so fast – he’s exploring every corner of your house now that he can walk, and he’s talking up a storm. One day, your favorite little guy started to fuss and began rubbing his lower jaw. Sensing the pain, you looked in his mouth and started to see his first molars come in. Since these teeth are larger than the others, you want to make sure the teething process is going as it should, so you reach out to Dr. Michael Royse at The Dentists at Orenco For Kids. As an award-winning and respected pediatric dentistry specialist, he’s the only kid’s dentist in Hillsboro you trust when it comes to the facts about your child’s oral development.
How Does Tooth Development Progress In Kids?
Children will usually have all of their primary (baby) teeth by the time they are 2-3 years old. You can refer to the following details to find out when specific teeth will come in.
Upper Teeth
- Central Incisor: 8-12 months
- Lateral Incisor: 9-13 months
- Canine: 16-22 months
- First Molar: 13-19 months
- Second Molar: 25-33 months
Lower Teeth
- Central Incisor: 6-10 months
- Lateral Incisor: 10-16 months
- Canine: 17-23 months
- First Molar: 14-18 months
- Second Molar: 23-31 months
• A basic rule of thumb about teeth is that for every 6 months of life, approximately 4 teeth will come in.
• Girls tend to progress faster than boys when developing teeth.
• Teeth usually come in in pairs across the mouth – meaning, if a tooth develops on the lower right hand side, you should also see one come in on the lower left.
• Lower teeth usually erupt before upper teeth.
• Children have a total of 20 primary (baby) teeth.
What Can I Do When My Child’s Molars Come In?
By the time your children experience the eruption of their molars, you will be well-versed with the teething process. Take care of these important new chewing mechanisms with the following tips:
• Cold Pressure – Using a refrigerated or frozen teething ring or a clean, wet washcloth can help apply cold, gentle pressure that will lessen inflammation and pain your child experiences.
• Diet Adjustments – Switch to foods that are soft, like applesauce, and yogurt. Go easy on sweets, though, since they can weaken enamel. You can also try full-size carrots that are peeled and then chilled in the fridge – this hard, cool vegetable can act as a natural teething ring. Also, if your child will tolerate it, ice water in a bottle or sippy cup and help to numb the discomfort.
• Practice Good Oral Hygiene – Even though your son or daughter may be experiencing soreness, it’s important to keep brushing and flossing twice a day. This will protect their existing teeth and lessen their chances for tooth decay and cavities.
• See Your Dentist – Visit your children’s dentist in Hillsboro to make sure teeth are developing as they should and to give kids a head start when it comes to oral health.
Now that you know when to expect your child’s molars, and what you can do when they arrive, schedule an appointment today with Dr. Michael Royse at The Dentists at Orenco For Kids to keep your son or daughter’s smile bright and healthy.