Milk teeth, or baby teeth, are the first set of teeth that appear, starting from around 6 months of age up to around 3 years. There should be 20 all together. Baby teeth are generally whiter and resemble the colour of milk.

Sometimes, teeth may appear a couple of months earlier or later than the expected time, depending on the child.

Baby teeth are temporary, and will eventually fall out making way for permanent adult teeth.  The teeth usually fall out in the order they come in and generally around 6-7 years old.  The back, baby teeth usually are replaced around 10-12 years of age.

Baby teeth are extremely important as they:

  • allow chewing and breaking food into smaller pieces for eating
  • promote speech development and are a prerequisite for correct pronunciation
  • preserve spaces for adult teeth to come in correctly and provide proper alignment
  • and help you to have a fabulous smile!

This is why it is so important to maintain good oral hygiene to keep these little teeth healthy.

OUR TOP TIPS TO KEEP YOUR BABY TEETH CLEAN, HEALTHY AND STRONG!

This starts by reducing what is often called Baby Bottle Tooth Decay.

1. Baby bottle tooth decay most often occurs in the upper front teeth, but other teeth may also be affected.  A common cause is the frequent, prolonged exposure of the baby’s teeth to drinks that contain sugar. After feeding, wipe your child’s gums with a clean, damp washcloth

2. Tooth decay can occur when the baby is put to bed with a bottle, or when a bottle is used to calm an upset baby.

3. Another cause of tooth decay we often don’t think of is bacteria passed from caregivers to the infant through the saliva. When the caregiver puts the baby’s feeding spoon in their mouth or cleans a pacifier in their mouth, the bacteria can be passed to the baby.  The bacteria in adult saliva can cause cavities in children.

OUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS!

  • When your child’s teeth come in, brush them gently with a child-size toothbrush and a smear (or grain of rice sized amount) of toothpaste until the age of 3
  • Children 3-6 are encouraged to use a pea size amount of fluoride toothpaste – Older children will use slightly more than that
  • Supervise brushing until your child can be counted on to spit and not swallow toothpaste—usually not before he or she is 6 or 7
  • Encourage your child to spit their toothpaste out

  • Help your child place the toothbrush at an angle against their gums
  • Move the brush back and forth, gently, in short strokes
  • Brush the front, back, and top of teeth
  • And don’t forget to brush the tongue to get rid of germs and freshen the breath

• Place only formula, milk or breast milk in bottles. Avoid filling the bottle with liquids such as sugar water, juice or soft drinks
• Infants should finish their bedtime and nap time bottles before going to bed
• If your child uses a pacifier or dummy, provide one that is clean – don’t dip it in sugar or honey
• Encourage your child to drink from a cup by their first birthday
• Encourage healthy eating habits from an early age

Your child’s first dental checkup should be no later than their second birthday.
But if you are not sure if your child is brushing correctly, it may be an ideal time for a checkup. Our Dental Therapists can provide Oral Hygiene Instruction to your child during this visit. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT HERE to see one of our wonderful team to help put your mind at rest.

AND…Don’t forget the importance of a nutritious and well-balanced diet. Check out some of our other blogs that provide great advice on this.

USEFUL DENTAL RESOURCES AND FURTHER READING

If you would like to read more about the importance of baby teeth, we have some links below that may be helpful:

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/teeth-development-in-children#caring-for-baby-teeth

https://www.kiddiesdentalcare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Caring-for-your-childs-teeth.pdf

Finally one for the parents who want a bit more detail on how to brush with a model demonstration!