Your child has her first loose tooth. This is a developmental milestone, setting the stage for permanent teeth that must last for life. At General Dentistry 4 Kids in Virginia Beach, VA, your child's dentist, Dr. Elleni Kapoor, welcomes children as young as one year for their first oral exams and every six months thereafter. Learn more about beautiful young smiles.
A loose tooth
Baby teeth number 20 in all. They are in place by age two and a half or so. Usually, children begin losing baby teeth between the ages of five and seven. The bottom central incisors typically are the first to go, followed by the top incisors, teeth on the side, and back molars just before the teen years.
HealthPartners indicates that losing a tooth doesn't hurt, particularly if the child doesn't try pushing the tooth excessively to hasten the process. When a tooth does fall out, the site bleeds a bit. Just encourage your child to rinse with water or bite on a 4x4 if the bleeding seems to take a while to resolve.
As new teeth emerge, children are delighted in the size and shape of their new teeth. As the parent, encourage your youngster to continue flossing and brushing faithfully. In fact, you should supervise your child until around age 10, recommends the American Dental Association (ADA).
Continuing care for a new smile
No tooth is disposable. So, if your child is holding onto her baby teeth for a while, don't worry. Baby teeth are important to place holders in the mouth, helping guide adult teeth into their proper places at the right time. Keep all teeth healthy with preventive care from your child's dentist in her Virginia Beach, VA, office as she does six-month exams, cleanings, and takes X-rays.
By age 7, your child should have an orthodontic evaluation, says the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. A straight, beautiful, healthy smile for life may depend on it. Also, dental alignment influences personal appearance, self-confidence, and speech.
Learn more
At General Dentistry 4 Kids in Virginia Beach, VA, Dr. Elleni Kapoor, and her team love caring for children. If you have questions about the transition from baby teeth to a permanent smile, please don't hesitate to call the dentist, and book that six-month cleaning and exam, too. Call us at (757) 965-3333.
