My teeth moved ~ a landmark phrase. A child’s tooth replacement may last six years or more, during which the baby teeth will gradually fall out and the permanent teeth will slowly come in.
A mouthful of straight teeth not only brings confidence to your child, but also reduces the incidence of periodontitis and other diseases. Parents must pay attention to this “little thing”, understand the necessary physiological knowledge, and give their children the right guidance.
Children have 20 baby teeth, which are usually complete by the age of three. They usually fall out in the same order as they grow in.
At around 6 years of age, the lower incisors are usually the first to fall out, followed by the upper incisors. The baby teeth usually do not loosen until the lower permanent teeth slowly push in and replace the baby teeth.
Tooth loss in children usually occurs as early as 4 years of age and as late as 7 years of age. Generally speaking, the earlier the teeth come in, the earlier they will fall out.
If a child begins to lose teeth before the age of 4, it is important to consult a dentist to rule out any possible underlying disease. Likewise, if your child has not started to replace teeth by the age of 8, it is a good idea to consult your dentist and have x-rays taken for evaluation.
How to “send away” the baby teeth?
1. If the baby teeth do not fall out, see a doctor
Try not to pull the tooth (especially the big teeth with roots) before it falls out by itself, because this will lead to the root breaking and cannot be removed, and it is more likely to be infected. In addition, when the permanent teeth have erupted but the milk teeth have not fallen out, you must find a doctor to pull out the milk teeth.
2.Caries in baby teeth should be treated
Many parents mistakenly think that “children’s decayed milk teeth should not be taken care of, as they will be replaced anyway”. But if tooth decay is not treated in time, it may lead to permanent tooth decay, facial change, uneven teeth, malnutrition, and even induce arthritis, nephritis and so on. Therefore, the decay of milk teeth should be treated quickly.
3.Don’t be careless about accidental tooth loss
Bear children are full of vitality, always bumping into each other. If a child’s baby tooth is accidentally lost too early, it will affect the arrangement of other baby teeth and thus affect the eruption of permanent teeth. Therefore, it is important to visit the dentist if the baby teeth are lost prematurely, and the dentist will customize a “gap retainer” to prevent the teeth on either side from shifting.
How to “welcome” permanent teeth?
1. Don’t worry about the “big teeth”
Newly grown incisors will look bigger, so many parents worry about becoming “big teeth”. In fact, this worry is superfluous, because as the age increases, the face will develop again, and the teeth will not grow again.
2, new permanent teeth loose, do not be afraid
Newly erupted teeth may be a little loose, which is normal, because the roots of new teeth are still developing. When the roots become thicker and stronger, the looseness will disappear.
3.Brush your teeth carefully
Maintaining a healthy oral environment during tooth replacement is very important for the eruption of permanent teeth, so it is necessary to pay more attention to tooth brushing. Replace your toothbrush every two or three months to keep it in the best condition and to reduce the growth of harmful bacteria. It is recommended to use fluoride toothpaste, which can reduce the risk of tooth decay.
4.Correct bad habits
Stop the habit of licking loose teeth and biting the pencil, which may affect the eruption of permanent teeth and the neatness of teeth.
5.Eat more hard food
During the period of tooth replacement, children should be allowed to chew on “hard foods” such as fruits, rather than soft foods. The development of the jaw and face is better facilitated by eating more hard foods and chewing more during the period of tooth replacement.
6. Take care of “six-year-old teeth
The permanent molar that erupts at the age of 6 is called “sixth-age tooth”, which is responsible for the most important task of chewing, coupled with its large size and more surface sockets, it is easy to retain food residues, and its position is not easy to clean, so it is prone to caries. Therefore, it is usually recommended to seal the sulcus and focus on cleaning it when brushing.