13 Questions About Milk Teeth

You know that your baby’s cute baby teeth will fall out over time. So, which tooth is the hardest to come out in babies in this process? What causes yellow stains on milk teeth? Let’s move on to the answers to your questions!

1. What are milk teeth?

Baby teeth are baby’s first teeth. The formation of these starts when the baby is still in the womb, and comes to light when the time comes. It is sharp, thin and delicate. The reason for this is that it will soon be replaced by permanent teeth.

These teeth, which are also called baby teeth among the people, also help the baby to feed, make sounds and develop facial expressions.

2. How many milk teeth are there?

Your baby will have a total of 20 milk teeth, 10 on the bottom and 10 on the top.

3. When do milk teeth come out?

As we mentioned above, in fact, your baby’s milk teeth begin to form while they are still in the womb. It manifests itself gradually when mature. Your baby’s first tooth will emerge in about 5-10 months. This process may differ from baby to baby.

4. What is the milk tooth extraction sequence in babies?

• Your baby will likely have two lower incisors and then the upper two incisors.
• Right after this, the lateral incisors will come.
• After a few months, the lower molars will come out, followed by the upper molars.
• The molars will be followed by the upper and lower canines.
• Finally, the lower and upper back molars will come out and the milk teeth will be completed.

5. When are baby teeth completed?

The teething adventure of your baby, which starts at about 5 months, will end at an average of 2.5 years. Again, this process may differ from baby to baby.

6. Which tooth is the hardest to erupt in babies?

Your baby’s milk teeth are very sharp. These teeth, which are trying to come to the surface, cause swelling, itching and pain as they pierce the baby’s gums. Experts say that the hardest teeth to erupt are the canines and molars, even if you don’t realize it.

7. Is it necessary to brush milk teeth?

If you think that care is not necessary because your baby’s milk teeth will fall out, you are wrong. In order for permanent teeth to come out properly and be healthy, it is necessary to care for milk teeth! Also, milk teeth rot. With your baby’s first tooth erupting, you should start brushing or cleaning.

Start using a toothbrush right away when your baby’s first teeth come out! First, you can clean with the help of your finger, using a wet gauze or wet soft cheesecloth. It may also be a good idea to use silicone finger brushes that also serve this purpose. So you can also relieve itchy gums.

You can start using a toothbrush when your baby is 1 year old and has some of his back teeth removed. You should use a soft-bristled, flexible, small-headed brush and fluoride- and chemical-free toothpastes.

8. Why do milk teeth rot?

• Milk teeth contain much more organic matter than permanent teeth,
• The baby’s consumption of excess carbohydrates and sugar,
• Not cleaning the mouth and teeth after feeding,
• Reasons such as the use of a bottle cause milk tooth decay.

You can’t realize that your baby’s baby teeth are rotten, and you won’t realize that he has a problem without going through a very painful process. By this stage, it may be too late to save the tooth. That’s why you should pay attention to the cleaning of your baby’s teeth.

9. What causes tooth discoloration in babies?

• Inadequate dental care
• Consumption of sugary and dyed foods,
• Iron drug use
• antibiotic use,
• High and uncontrollable fever,
• Staining may occur in the baby’s milk teeth due to reasons such as a blow to the tooth.

Dentist and Prosthesis Specialist Çağdaş Kışlaoğlu recommends the following methods to prevent yellow stains on your milk teeth:

• After meals, give your baby some water to drink.
• Clean your teeth with wet gauze.
• Begin dental check-ups from the age of 2-3.
• Do not allow long hours of bottle feeding.
• Do not give sugary and dyed foods.

10. What causes baby bottle caries in milk teeth?

If you are feeding your baby foods such as milk or formula with a bottle, some of the lactose, ie sugar, in them can accumulate on the teeth and between them. Especially if you are feeding your baby with a bottle before going to sleep, it will not be possible for the baby to clean his teeth himself, since there will be very little saliva secretion at night. If it is not cleaned, bacteria increase and gradually cause cavities.

Baby bottle decay occurs with brown spots and tooth enamel breaking down. Over time, it causes inflammation of the teeth. In such a case, the teeth should be extracted.

What you will do to prevent this is the same as other bruises! Cleaning your baby’s teeth regularly!

11. When do milk teeth fall out?

When the child is 5 or 6 years old, milk teeth begin to fall out gradually. Permanent teeth put pressure on the top, helping the root of the milk teeth to loosen and fall out.

You may be wondering in what order milk teeth fall out. Honestly, there is no particular order in which the teeth fall out, but it has been observed that the anterior incisors fall first.

It takes about 3 years for a child to shed all their milk teeth.

12. Why do baby teeth not fall out?

• A trauma experienced in the milk tooth,
• Excessive caries in milk teeth,
• No teeth underneath
• Reasons such as the permanent tooth being in another place, not under the primary tooth, can prevent the tooth from falling out.

If the milk tooth is intact, if there is no bruise or damage, there is no problem in keeping it in the mouth. However, if these teeth are unhealthy and weak, they will decay over time, so necessary intervention should be done.

13. What is called a milk tooth bank?

The milk tooth bank decomposes the stem cells in the baby’s milk teeth and aims to treat with these stem cells in case of a serious health condition in the future. So he’s still saving his child’s teeth for him.

Stem cells are cells from the human body that have the ability to self-renew. It can live for a very long time and create new cells without genetic errors. It is found in the umbilical cord, milk teeth, blood and bone marrow.

Stem cells; It has an important place in the treatment of diseases such as MS (Multiple Sclerosis), Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, heart diseases, some types of cancer, stroke, eye diseases, immune deficiency.

In these milk tooth banks, which have a branch in Turkey, the child’s tooth is carefully extracted and sent to America in a special solution. If enough stem cells are obtained in the examinations, they can be stored in these centers for at least 20 years.