Milk teeth

Dairy, also known as deciduous, primary or temporary, are the first teeth to develop and grow during the life of any human being.

The milk teeth begin to appear around the 6th month of life and, by the age of 2, the baby will exhibit a complete - albeit provisional - set of 20 milk teeth (5 for each half-arch).

After some time, around the age of 6, the milk teeth will begin to fall out spontaneously to give way to the permanent teeth.

from milk, both premolars and wisdom teeth are missing.

For further information: Teething of the Newborn (in addition to representing a risk factor for chipping or breaking).

Permanent Teeth: when do milk teeth replace?

Much stronger and more robust than milk teeth, permanent teeth begin to appear between the ages of 6 and 13.

Having completed the 14th year of life, the child - who has now become a boy - proudly shows his entire set of teeth: 4 incisors, 2 canines, 4 premolars and 6 molars on the jaw and as many on the jaw.

Curiosity: the Teeth of Judgment

The molars placed at the extremities (known as "third molar" or simply wisdom teeth) do not always develop: often, in fact, it happens that one or more wisdom teeth fail to appear.
On the other hand, those who have more wisdom teeth are often forced to undergo a dental extraction operation, since these permanent teeth, pushing on the teeth, can be the cause of crooked teeth or dental malocclusion.

Milk Teeth and Permanent Teeth: how the dentition evolves in the human being

• At the age of 6 months, the first milk teeth begin to appear.
• By the 2nd year of life, all the milk teeth have grown.
• At the 6th year of life, the spontaneous loss of milk teeth begins.
• Between the 6th and 13th year of life, the replacement of milk teeth with permanent teeth begins. In this period of life there is also talk of mixed dentition, as the boy has both milk teeth and permanent teeth.
• After the age of 14, the permanent dentition is complete and includes: 4 incisors, 2 canines, 4 premolars and 6 molars on the maxilla, and as many on the mandible.
  The total is 32 teeth.

To learn more: Milk Teeth Fall - for at least two reasons:

• Milk teeth are more fragile and more easily attacked than permanent ones; for this reason, they are more exposed to the risk of infection and pain;
• Affected by cariogenic and untreated processes, diseased milk teeth fall out faster than healthy ones.
  The early fall of a baby tooth can have a negative effect in the long term, causing alignment / occlusion problems in the future adult patient's mouth.

To learn more: Caries of Milk Teeth should be integrated with a fluoride supplementation, to make milk teeth stronger and, at the same time, less susceptible to cavities.

Maintain satisfactory oral hygiene by using special toothbrushes (diversified according to the age of the child). Change the toothbrush every 2-3 months. Small children who are not yet able to use the toothbrush can rub their fingertips on the surface of the baby teeth, after placing a small amount of toothpaste specifically for small children on the finger.

If possible, breastfeed the baby: in addition to preventing the formation of cavities in milk teeth, breast milk strengthens the teeth, favoring the remineralization of calcium and phosphorus.In addition, breast milk - unlike cow's (cow's) milk - helps protect the enamel of milk teeth.

When the baby is a little older, the baby teeth should be brushed with a fluoride-enriched toothpaste.

Avoid giving the child fruit juices or other sugary drinks at night: such behavior increases the risk of cavities in the milk teeth.

Dental floss can also be used to remove bits of food stuck between baby teeth. In this case, it is advisable to start using the thread when the 3rd / 4th year of age is reached.

Permanent molar teeth that replace milk teeth can be subjected to occlusal sealing to prevent cavities from forming in the molar grooves. It is a defensive strategy that consists in the application of a special white resin on the surface of the molar teeth (just replaced by the milk ones). In this way, the resinous paste protects the grooves of the teeth from cariogenic processes, making them unassailable by bacteria and plaque.

Guarantee the child a healthy and regular diet, limiting the intake of sugary substances as much as possible (this attitude is also useful for preventing overweight, obesity and related metabolic diseases).

Avoid excessive use of bottles with too sweet liquids (chamomile, sweetened tea, etc.) and teats soaked in honey or sugar. Similar habits - although extremely appreciated by the child - are the main culprits of early and / or multiple caries in milk teeth.

For further information: Milk Teeth: How to Clean Them;

Caring for baby teeth;

Caries of milk teeth;

Loss of milk teeth.