Without them, a child cannot chew food properly and has difficulty speaking clearly. Primary teeth are vital to development of the jaws and for guiding the permanent secondary teeth into place when they replace the primary teeth around age 6. Since primary teeth guide the permanent teeth into place, infants with missing primary teeth or infants who prematurely lose primary teeth may require a space maintainer, a device used to hold the natural space open.
Without a maintainer, the teeth can tilt toward the empty space and cause permanent teeth to come in crooked. Missing teeth should always be mentioned to your family dentist.
Children and adults are equally susceptible to plaque and gum problemsβhence, the need for regular care and dental checkups. Good Diet and Healthy Teeth. The teeth, bones and soft tissue of the mouth require a healthy, well-balanced diet. A typical 5 or 10 minute snack twice a day is better than snacking every 45 minutes! Infant Tooth Eruption. The remainder of the 20 primary teeth typically erupt by age 3, but the timing and order varies.
Permanent teeth begin eruption around age 6, starting with the first molars and lower central incisors.
This process continues until around age Adults have 28 secondary permanent teethβ32 including the third molars wisdom teeth. Normally, the first tooth erupts between ages 4 to 12 months. Gums are sore, tender and sometimes irritable until the age of 3. Rubbing sore gums gently with a clean finger, or a cold, wet cloth helps soothe the gums.
