Your Teeth

About Teeth

What Your San Diego Pediatric Dentist Wants You to Know About Teeth

Remember when you were a kid, how excited you got when you had a loose tooth? It meant the tooth fairy would be coming for a visit. It also meant that a new – permanent – tooth was on its way.
Specializing in children’s dentistry, Dr. Nazli Keri wants you to remind you about the importance of your child’s two sets of teeth:

Primary or “baby” teeth.
Secondary or permanent teeth.

Your children’s teeth begin to develop between the third and sixth months of pregnancy. At birth, even though you can’t see them, your baby already has 20 primary teeth. At age six to eight months, those primary teeth appear with all 20 in place by age three.

The Role of Your Child’s Primary Teeth

Primary “baby” teeth play a crucial role in your children’s dental development. Without them, your child cannot chew food properly and has difficulty speaking clearly. Healthy teeth:

Allow for clear pronunciation and speech habits.
Are vital to the development of your child’s jaw.
Guide the permanent teeth into place as they replace your child’s primary teeth.

Even though the primary teeth eventually fall out, it’s still important to teach your children good oral hygiene from the get-go. Primary teeth are susceptible to plaque and gum problems so instill a regular care regime and dental checkups to ensure your children develop strong & healthy permanent teeth. If you notice your child is missing teeth, mention it to The Super Dentists and their team of pediatric dental professionals.

Strong Permanent Teeth Deliver Beautiful Smiles

With the exception of wisdom teeth, your permanent teeth begin to grow around age six. All permanent teeth are present between ages 12 and 14. The next teeth to grow in are your child’s 12-year molars, and finally their wisdom teeth.
Wisdom teeth typically begin breaking through from age 17 and on. The total number of permanent teeth is 32, though few people have room for all 32 teeth. This is why you may remember some of your wisdom teeth being removed when you were younger.
The second set of teeth - your child’s primary teeth - are the ones they keep for life. Therefore, it is important to stress regular brushing and flossing.

And, don’t forget to schedule periodic check-ups by the pediatric dentists at The Super Dentists’ office. Whether you’re in Chula Vista, Oceanside or Eastlake, there are Super Dentists’ offices in both the North and South Counties. Call our office at (619) DENTIST (336-8478). If you prefer to e-mail us first, please do so at WhatsNew@TheSuperDentists.com. One of our friendly team members will respond to you promptly. For our office hours, San Diego locations and maps, simply click here.

Dental Health

Getting your children started on good dental hygiene and oral care early in their lives is vital. According to research, the most common chronic childhood disease in America is tooth decay, affecting 50 percent of first-graders and 80 percent of 17-year-olds. Early treatment prevents problems affecting a child's health, well-being, self-image and overall achievement.

The National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research estimates that children miss:

52 million hours of school each year due to oral health problems.
Approximately 12.5 million days of restricted activity every year from dental symptoms.

Because this results in such a significant loss in their academic performance, the Surgeon General has made children's oral health a priority.

As a parent, you are responsible for ensuring your children's daily practice of good dental hygiene. You must introduce proper oral care early in your children's lives—as early as infancy. An optimal oral hygiene routine for children recommended by the American Dental Hygiene Association includes:

Thoroughly cleaning your infant's gums after each feeding with a water-soaked infant cloth. This stimulates the gum tissue and removes food.
Brushing your baby's erupted teeth gently with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush using a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste.
Teaching your child at age 2 or 3 about proper brushing and gentle flossing until 7 or 8 years old.
Regular visits with their dentist to check for cavities in the primary teeth and for possible developmental problems.
Encouraging your child to discuss any fears they may have about oral health visits, but not mentioning words like "pain" or "hurt," since this may instill the possibility of pain in the child's thought process.
Determining if the water supply that serves your home is fluoridated; if not, discussing supplement options with your dentist or hygienist.
Asking our staff about sealant applications to protect your child's chewing surfaces and about bottle tooth decay, which occurs when teeth are frequently exposed to sugared liquids.

To make your child's first appointment with The Super Dentists and their team of professionals, call (760) or (619) DENTIST (336-8478) today!