When Do Infants First Get Their Teeth?

Are you absolutely smitten with your baby’s cheesy grin at the moment? You might be wondering, “When do infants first get their teeth?” because you’re eagerly anticipating the appearance of those cute baby teeth! However, it’s important to remember that the process of tooth eruption can bring some discomfort, which might not be as enjoyable for you or your little one.

Teething is a significant developmental milestone for children, on par with walking and talking. Developing your child’s teeth will be crucial for many aspects of their future development, including eating solid foods, learning to speak, and more. Read on to find out the signs to look for and the age at which babies start developing their first teeth.

Impact of New Teeth

Your infant can now enjoy a varied diet thanks to their newly erupted teeth. They may have to live on pureed food forever if they don’t get them. Weight increase, immune system strength, and bone and brain development are all influenced by your child’s capacity to tear into meat, bite into a plum, and chew beans, all of which occur during teething.

The emergence of your child’s teeth also has a positive effect on their developing linguistic skills. Sherry Artemenko is a speech-language pathologist and the author of Play on Words. She says that as babies get teeth and can bite and chew more textured foods, they are exercising and growing the oral-motor muscles needed for speech development. Your child’s teeth will help him or her learn how to make sounds like /f/, /th/, and /sh/.

When Do Infants Usually Get Their First Teeth?

“Most kids get their first teeth between 4 and 6 months, but some may get them earlier or later,” Dr. Josen explains.

The appearance of a baby’s first tooth has nothing to do with intelligence, despite what Grandma may tell you. According to Dr. Jill Lasky of the Lasky Pediatric Dental Group in Los Angeles, “The only thing that affects when a baby gets his or her first tooth is the past of teething in the family.” If you had all of your teeth by a certain age, it’s likely that your kid will, too.

The two central incisors on the bottom jaw usually come in first, followed by the four central and lateral incisors in the top jaw. However, Dr. Josen notes that some shifts in the order are to be expected and should not cause alarm. By the time your child is three, all his or her twenty main (baby) teeth should have come in.

When does a parent realize their child is teething? While not every child will experience discomfort as their first teeth emerge, those who can suffer greatly. Teething can cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms in a kid, including drooling, which can lead to a rash on the chin or face, gum swelling and sensitivity, irritability, biting, and sleep disturbances. Gum inflammation is a common cause of a low-grade fever (less than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, assessed rectally).

Is it Time to Visit the Dentist?

Children should visit the dentist by their first birthday or within six months of the emergence of their first tooth, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

In the first 45 minutes of your initial appointment, your dentist will examine your gums, oral tissue, jaw, bite, and any teeth that have erupted. The following are examples of questions a dentist may ask to evaluate your oral health:

• When and how often you eat.
• Describe the deterioration of teeth caused by drinking from a bottle.
• Problems and anticipations in teething.
• Habits involving the use of a pacifier.
• How to stop sucking your thumb or finger and related issues.

Time to See the Pediatrician

A delay in teething is possible in premature and low birth-weight infants. It’s common for some kids to wait until 18 months to obtain their first tooth, but if your kid still doesn’t have any teeth by then, it’s time to make an appointment with the dentist, advises Little Rock, Arkansas, doctor Carrie M. Brown, M.D. Sometimes, teeth won’t form because of a medical problem.

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