Milk teeth

What are milk teeth?

Milk teeth ( deciduous, primary or temporary aliases) are the first teeth to develop and grow during the life of every human being.

The milk teeth begin to appear around the 6th month of life and, within 2 years of age, the child will exhibit a complete set of teeth - albeit temporary - made up of 20 milk teeth (5 for each semi-arched). After some time, around 6 years, the milk teeth will begin to fall spontaneously to make way for the permanent ones.

• 2 incisors (1 central + 1 lateral)
• 1 canine
• 2 molars (called respectively "first" and "second" molar)

The premolars and wisdom teeth are absent in the milk dentition

Fall of milk teeth

It is not uncommon to observe some "buchetto" in the smile of children: this phenomenon is absolutely normal, and we certainly should not be alarmed if, suddenly, a milk tooth becomes unstable, staggers and falls.

It is however necessary to underline that the (physiological) fall of milk teeth is not always spontaneous. In fact, children are specialized experts in tumbles and tumbles, all factors that "inexplicably" favor and accelerate the time the baby tooth falls. In addition to what has been said, let us remember that the common outdoor accidents of children are the most dangerous enemies for milk teeth, being risk factors for chipped / broken teeth.

The permanent teeth, much stronger and more robust than the milk ones, begin to appear at an age between 6 and 13 years. Having completed the 14th year of life, the child - who has now become a boy - proudly shows all the complete dentition: 4 incisors, 2 canines, 4 premolars and 6 molars on the maxilla and the same number on the mandible.

Curiosity

Not always the molars placed at the ends (known as "third molar" or simply wisdom teeth) develop: often, in fact, it happens that one or more wisdom teeth fail to appear. Otherwise, those with more wisdom teeth are often forced to undergo dental extraction, since these permanent teeth, pushing on the teeth, can cause crooked teeth or dental malocclusion.

Care of milk teeth

It is a common opinion that milk teeth, since they are destined to fall, should not be treated. In reality, it is extremely important to prevent any dental conditions - such as tooth decay - for at least two reasons:

1. Milk teeth are more fragile and more easily attacked than permanent ones; for this reason, they are more exposed to the risk of infection and pain
2. Sick milk teeth affected by cariogenic and untreated processes fall faster than healthy ones. The early fall of a milk tooth can have negative repercussions in the long term, causing alignment / occlusion problems in the mouth of the future adult patient.

Prevention of dental infections

We have therefore observed how important it is to take care of children's milk teeth.

But how is it possible to prevent tooth decay and other pathologies?

Let us first remember that small children are not able to brush their teeth alone; therefore, it is the duty of parents to take care of their children's milk teeth.

Let's see together some practical tips, useful to prevent the onset of caries in milk teeth:

• Begin cleaning the oral cavity at the onset of the first milk tooth: in these cases, it is sufficient to pass a gauze soaked in physiological solution onto the tooth and gums. The cleaning of teeth, especially when performed before sleeping, minimizes the risk of so-called "baby bottle caries"
• The first dental examination should be performed around the 12 months of the child's life: during this visit, the dentist defines an accurate dental hygiene plan (clearly useful to make parents understand how to intervene on the milk teeth of their children)
• If the dentist deems it appropriate, the feeding of the child must be supplemented with a fluoride supplementation, to make the milk teeth stronger and, at the same time, less susceptible to caries
• Maintain satisfactory oral hygiene by using appropriate toothbrushes (diversified according to the age of the child). Change the toothbrush every 2-3 months. Small children who are not yet able to use the toothbrush can rub their fingertips on the surface of milk teeth, after placing a small amount of toothpaste (specifically for children) on the finger
• If possible, breastfeed the baby: in addition to preventing the formation of caries in milk teeth, breast milk strengthens the teeth, favoring the re-mineralization of calcium and phosphorus. In addition, breast milk - unlike the vaccine (cow) milk - helps protect the enamel of milk teeth
• When the baby is a little older, the baby teeth should be washed with a fluoride-enriched toothpaste
• Avoid giving the child fruit juices or other sugary drinks during the night: this behavior increases the risk of tooth decay in milk teeth
• Dental floss can also be used to remove food fragments stuck between milk teeth. In this case, it is advisable to start using the wire when reaching the 3rd / 4th year of age
• Permanent molar teeth that replace milk teeth can be subjected to occlusal seals to prevent the formation of caries in molar grooves. It is a defensive strategy which consists in the application of a special white resin on the surface of the molar teeth (just replaced by the milk ones). In this way, the resinous paste protects the tooth grooves from cariogenic processes, making them resistant to bacteria and plaque.
• Guarantee the child a healthy and regular diet, limiting as much as possible the intake of sugary substances (useful attitude also to prevent overweight, obesity and related metabolic diseases)
• Avoid excessive use of bottles with excessively sweet liquids (chamomile, sweetened tea etc.) and teats soaked in honey or sugar. Similar habits - despite being extremely welcome by the child - are the main culprits of early and / or multiple caries in milk teeth.