Children's Teeth

As parents, we know you often have questions about your child’s teeth. Here are a few of the more commonly asked questions we receive:

Q.) How old should my child be before I take them to a dentist?

A.) For most kids, three or four years old is a good age. A lot of it depends on the child and you as a parent know them best, of course, but most kids do very well at this age. If you have a concern or problem, however, bring your child in, regardless of their age.


Q.) What can I do to prevent cavities for my child?

A.) At Deerhaven Family Dentistry, we stress prevention of tooth decay (cavities). We encourage sealants and fluoride to keep cavities from starting. Sealants are a coating which helps protect the grooves of back teeth from cavities. Fluoride is truly a ‘wonder drug’ when it comes to preventing cavities. We recommend that your child receive topical fluoride (gel) applications at their cleaning appointments. If you don’t drink city (fluoridated) water, we recommend a daily fluoride chewable tablet (or drops) for children through age thirteen. Studies have shown that fluoride dramatically reduces cavities.

Between sealants, fluoride, and regular dental care, it is likely your child will have far fewer cavities than previous generations.


Q.) My six year old has a lower front permanent tooth coming in behind her baby tooth. What should I do?

A.) Don’t panic! This is not uncommon at all. Most often, the erupting permanent tooth will loosen the baby tooth and push it out of the way. In a few rare instances, the baby tooth needs to be removed. If you have any concerns, it would be advisable to have our dentist take a look.


Q.) When should my son be getting his teeth in? When should the baby teeth be lost?

A.) Children’s teeth begin forming before birth. As early as 4 months, the first primary, or baby teeth, to erupt through the gums are the lower central incisors, followed closely by the upper central incisors. Although all 20 primary teeth usually appear by age 3, the pace and order of the eruption varies.

Oral care should begin soon after birth. Gums should be cleaned after each feeding. You can begin brushing your child’s teeth as soon as they appear.

Permanent teeth begin appearing around the age 6, starting with the first molars and lower central incisors. This process continues until approximately age 21.

Adults have 28 permanent teeth, or up to 32 including the third molars (wisdom teeth)