How Do Baby Teeth Grow?

Your baby’s first teeth are celebrated as a milestone that signifies your baby is growing and will soon be able to eat solid food. 

Have you ever wondered what happens in the baby’s body when those little teeth are preparing to grow?

The development of your baby’s primary teeth starts while the baby is still in the womb. We have permanent teeth growing under our gums simultaneously before birth. 

At about five weeks gestation, the first buds of a fetus’s primary teeth appear in the jaw. At birth, the baby has 20 primary teeth. There are ten teeth in the upper jaw and 10 in the lower jaw, essentially a complete set of milk teeth (or deciduous teeth) hidden under the gums. Good nutrition is essential during pregnancy. Pregnant women should have a diet full of fresh fruit and veggies to ensure proper nutrients for the baby’s teeth and bones to develop fully. It is also advised that moms supplement specific vitamins and minerals like calcium and phosphorus, vitamin C, and vitamin D. 

From about six years old, humans get their first permanent molars at the back of the mouth. Around the same time, our front teeth start to come out. Our baby teeth loosen and fall out as their roots dissolve.

That is why you’ll notice when your child’s baby teeth start to fall out, the roots look very short. Baby teeth are smaller and whiter than permanent teeth.

Teething And Eruption

When your baby’s teeth are ready to emerge, they will likely have the following symptoms:

• A mild fever,
• Flushed cheeks,
• Red, swollen gums,
• Gnawing on their hands or bottle teats, 
• Drooling, and
• Unsettled behaviour.

Teething is a notorious parenting and growing phase in which many parents complain of sleepless nights. But rest assured, it is a temporary growing pain. 

Some babies have upset tummies and cry more than usual when teething starts. It should be investigated further if a child presents with diarrhoea during teething. Softer stools can be caused by the baby swallowing excessive mucus during teething, but it should not turn into diarrhoea.

According to Colgate, when your child experiences teething and diarrhoea simultaneously, you should ensure that the objects they are chewing on have been adequately cleaned. Keep your baby hydrated, and feed your baby soft foods, as these don’t hurt as much to chew. 

Soft foods are easier to manage when teething. This helps motivate them to eat through the discomfort.

There are four main stages of development of the tooth, explains Hopkins Medicine:

• Stage 1 starts in the fetus at about six weeks gestation when the basic substance of the tooth forms.
• In stage 2, the hard tissue that surrounds the teeth is formed around 3 to 4 months of gestation.
• After the baby is born, stage 3 occurs when the tooth protrudes through the gum.
• Finally, the milk teeth fall out and male way for permanent teeth.

The Pain

Teething is also referred to as eruption. Most of the pain of teething happens because of eruption, which is the part of teething when the tooth actually breaks through the gum line. 

The timing of tooth eruption can happen at any time. Some children are born with one or teeth already emerged. Most kids start teething until they are 12 months old. But there is no actual timeline, only guidelines, and your baby will develop at his or her own pace. If your child hasn’t had any teeth emerge by 18 months old, visit your dentist for a check, and they will investigate any possible underlying issues. 

The exact timing may differ from child to child, but the order of tooth development is more consistent.

Remedies

You can use a few tricks to ease your baby’s transition in growing its first set of teeth. 

Some home remedies include:

• Rubbing your baby’s gums with a cold cloth: The pressure of the fabric gently scratches any itches, and they can bite down on it safely.
• Give your baby a clean, cold washcloth to bite down on.
• Place frozen fruits or vegetables in a silicone teether for your baby to chew on.