If you think that teeth are something
that begin showing up at about six months of age think again.
Primary or "baby" teeth begin to form under the gums
during the fifth month of pregnancy. So, babies are actually
born with a full set of teeth hidden beneath their gums. And,
while most parents patiently ponder the time of emergence, most
babies will get their first tooth at around 6 months, but your
baby's may appear as early as 3 months or as late as 14. And,
like many other things, gender plays a slight difference as
well. Yeah, for some reason, girls tend to teethe a little earlier
than boys.
When the first teeth do come in, usually the
bottom teeth appear before the uppers and often teeth appear
two by two, i.e., two lowers and then two uppers. You can expect
an average of a new tooth per month until a full set of twenty
baby teeth erupt by two and a half years of age. But, don't
worry that your baby doesn't yet have teeth. Just as there are
normal late walkers and late talkers, there are normal late
teethers, which unfortunately tend to be more painful teethers.
This is possibly because a bunch of teeth tend to punch through
those tender gums all at once, rather than one or two at a time.
Typically, your child should have a full set of 20 primary teeth
by age 3, with permanent teeth replacing them at 4 to 6 years
of age.
Remember that teething is a natural part of
life, and the pain and discomfort that accompany it are all
part of the human experience. It's a process that lasts about
two years, but after the first few teeth come in, it tends to
be much less painful. Once the first tooth appears, try to start
cleaning it twice a day by rubbing gently with a washcloth.
And, whatever you do, don't put your baby to bed with a bottle
or nurse him to sleep once his teeth come in, since he's now
prone to cavities. This may be a difficult time for you and
your baby, but with a little help and lots of patience, the
little one will have a lifetime of happy healthy smiles.
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