Your child’s teeth begin developing in the womb. Typically during week five or six, the first tooth tissue buds of primary teeth appear in the baby’s jaws. The enamel will develop around three to four months into the gestation period.

According to the American Dental Association, by the time your child is born, they will have developed a full set of 20 primary teeth (10 each in the upper and lower jaw) hidden beneath the gums. Primary teeth are also known as baby teeth or milk teeth.

Baby with no teeth yawning

Teething usually begins when your child is 3 to 12 months old. Teething is the process where the primary teeth begins to erupt through the gum line. The first sign of teething is likely a red, swollen bump on the baby’s gums. Another obvious sign of teething is if your child begins to chew or chomp on things in order to help relieve the pressure of an emerging tooth.

Although we know that your child’s primary teeth will eventually shed, it’s still important to take care of his or her teeth. This includes daily oral hygiene care and building healthy dental health habits during this time. Take a look at our Plancich Dental’s Guide to Infant and Young Toddler Care blog post for more helpful information.

Around the ages of 5 through 11, your child will begin to lose their primary teeth, which are replaced by permanent adult teeth. Losing teeth can be a scary or painful experience for some children. As a parent, you may need to help ease your child’s anxiety around losing teeth. Your Tacoma family dentist at Plancich Dental will help assure them that losing teeth is a perfectly normal experience and a sign that they are growing!

Around the ages 10 through 12, your child will gain his or her second molars. Your child’s third molars, also known as the wisdom teeth, will appear around 17 to 21 years of age. However, not everyone develops their wisdom teeth. For some people, none of the wisdom teeth form or only a few form. By the time your child reaches adulthood, all 32 of the permanent teeth will have usually erupted.

While the specific age and order that teeth develop can vary, parents should pay close attention to the symmetry of development and any other issues out of the ordinary. Regularly scheduled appointments to Tacoma’s holistic family dentistry Plancich Dental will help ensure that your child’s teeth are healthy and developing properly. Don’t hesitate to give us a call if you have any questions concerning your child’s teeth development. Our family dental clinic is located in Old Town Tacoma, near the Ruston Way Waterfront.