L.A. and Santa Monica Orthodontist Discusses Tooth Development from Birth to Age 3 - By: Atoosa Nikaeen

LOS ANGELES, BEVERLY HILLS AND SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA-- Although they are not permanent, a child’s primary, or baby, teeth play an important role in development.

Healthy baby teeth are necessary for chewing food and holding a space in the jaw until the adult teeth erupt. That means that what goes on in a child’s mouth from birth to age 3 can play a significant role in the child’s adult teeth development, said Los Angeles and Santa Monica orthodontist Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen.

Baby Teeth At Birth

Except for a few isolated occasions, babies are born with their teeth embedded in the gums and not showing, Nikaeen, Santa Monica Invisalign provider said. The front teeth begin to erupt by the time the infant is between four and eight months old. From six months on, children average about four new teeth every four months, and within a year or so, crowns have formed on all of a child’s baby teeth.

Baby teeth first erupt in the front of the mouth, Nikaeen, Santa Monica Invisible Braces Expert said. They erupt in pairs and alternate between the upper and lower jaws.

“Sometimes it appears that baby teeth are crooked because as they erupt, they can do so at an angle,” said the Los Angeles and Santa Monica, CA orthodontics specialist. “This isn’t anything to worry about because they will straighten out in due time.”

A majority of children have obtained all 20 of their primary teeth by age 3. It is at this point that a child’s tongue begins to adapt to the shape of the teeth and his/her swallowing pattern will change to an adult pattern.

The enamel on baby teeth is not as strong or as thick as the enamel on permanent teeth, and this makes them more susceptible to tooth decay. It is not entirely unusual for children to develop tooth decay as soon as their teeth erupt, said the Los Angeles and Santa Monica, CA braces expert.

Approximately half of all 2-year-olds have at least one cavity, according to information on the topic posted on Answers.com.

Some studies that show that a baby’s teeth and jaw develop more completely when they are fed breast milk instead of formula, Nikaeen said. Because of that, there are some steps pregnant and nursing mothers can take to promote their baby's long-term dental development.

Mothers should not take over-the-counter or prescribed drugs during the first three months of their pregnancy and they should eat a healthy diet, according to the ADA. They also should not use tobacco products, consume alcohol or eat large quantities of sugar.

Sometimes tooth decay is promoted when children are given sugary drinks in their baby bottles, particularly when they are given a bottle prior to going to sleep. Drinks with high sugar content that are left to sit on the teeth become food for bacteria that exist in the mouth, according to the ADA. The bacteria and sugars combine to create acids that can attack the teeth for 20 minutes or longer after consuming the sugary beverage. This can ultimately lead to decay.

A 1999 article in Pediatric Dentistry quoted a study that had determined that breast milk does not promote tooth decay.

It is important to take steps to prevent tooth decay in babies because decay can lead to tooth loss. If a child loses a baby tooth too early, it may cause the surrounding teeth to shift into the vacant space and create crowding problems when the adult teeth start to erupt, according to information posted on the American Dental Association Web site.

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About the Author

If you would like more information on Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen, Santa Monica Orthodontist, please visit Santa Monica orthodontics practice's Web site.Dr. Nikaeen, Santa Monica Braces Expert, graduated with honors from dental school in 1993 and received a doctorate in dental surgery.

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