Why are baby teeth so important?

Baby teeth, also known as “primary teeth,” are important to a child’s speech and body development.

If you think your baby’s toothless smile is cute, just wait until their first few teeth make an appearance.  A baby’s 20 primary teeth are already present in the jaws at birth and typically begin to appear when a baby is between 6 months and 1 year old.

Most children have a full set of 20 primary teeth by the time they are 2.  Every child is different, but usually the first teeth to come in are located in the top and bottom front of their mouth.

Baby teeth are very important to your child’s health and development.  They help him or her chew, speak and smile.  They also hold space in the jaws for permanent teeth that are growing under the gums.  When a baby tooth is lost too early, the permanent teeth can drift into the empty space and make it difficult for other adult teeth to find room when they come in.  That’s why starting infants off with good oral care can help protect their teeth for decades to come.

The first baby tooth does not fall out for most children until age six or seven and the last baby tooth does not fall out until early teen years between 11 and 13. Permanent teeth begin erupting at age six, and continue until age 21. Adults have 28 permanent teeth (32, including wisdom teeth).

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