Temporary dentition

| Baby teeth, despite their temporary nature, it is important to take good care of them to avoid ailments in children. Find out everything about this type of teething.

At the time of birth the child normally has no teeth. The primary, deciduous, or milk dentition begins to erupt around 6-8 months and ends around 30-36 months This dentition will remain in the mouth exclusively until 6 years of age, the date on which the mixed dentition period begins during which temporary teeth and teeth coincide in the mouth. definitive at the same time.

When baby teeth come in

It is important to reassure parents about the variations in the age of eruption of primary teeth. It is considered normal for the primary dentition to have completed its eruptive process at 3 years of age. If the delay is greater than 6 months, it could be a reason to consult with the Pediatric Dentist.

However, a delay in the eruption of the primary dentition is usually associated with an even greater delay in the eruption of the permanent dentition.

The population should be made aware of the importance of primary dentition and of the repercussion that these have in the future dental health and correct occlusion of the adult.

How many milk teeth are there

Let us remember that the primary dentition It consists of 20 teeth, ten in each arch (or what is the same, 5 in each quadrant). We have 2 upper and lower central incisors, 2 upper and lower lateral incisors, 2 upper and lower canines, 2 upper and lower primary first molars and 2 upper and lower second primary molars.

The normal chronology of eruption of temporary teeth would be the following:

• Central incisor: 7 months (upper) 6-7 months (lower)
• Lateral incisor: 8 months (upper) 7-8 months (lower)
• Canine: 16-20 months
• First temporary molar: 12-16 months
• Second temporary molar: 21-30 months.

It is important to note that temporary teeth are smaller, flatter and whiter than permanent teeth (one of the most frequent reasons for consultation from concerned parents).

Temporary teeth not only meet a chewing function, but also aesthetics (influences the correct development of the child's self-esteem) and phonetics (the correct pronunciation of some phonemes can be altered in case of alteration of primary teeth).

We bear in mind that infantile tooth decay can be the cause of the appearance of (in most of the times it goes unnoticed). Likewise, a long-standing infectious process in a temporary tooth can affect the germ of the definitive tooth.

It is important to correction of bad habits at this age. Thumb sucking, so common in infants, is one of the main causes of malocclusion due to orthodontic treatment a few years later.

Pacifier use should also be eradicated by the end of the first year of life. It is important to emphasize that impregnating the pacifier in honey, sugar or condensed milk To reassure the infant is another of the most harmful habits and the worst cariogenic consequences at that age.

The tooth brushing in this stage. Small and soft brush is recommended. The use of toothpaste is not essential. It is very important to introduce and learn this habit once a day, preferably at night and with one.