SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – Your child may be excited about losing a tooth and getting a gift from the tooth fairy and that’s great, provided baby teeth fall out naturally.
The baby teeth work as a pathway for the adult teeth. If your child takes great care of his/her baby teeth, chances are he/she will have great permanent teeth as well.

The primary teeth act as a space maker, and if your child prematurely loses a baby tooth that space can close before the permanent tooth erupts, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry website. A pediatric orthodontic care specialist can help create space if needed.

Your baby’s teeth begin forming before birth. The first baby tooth typically appears around the age of 6 months. Many infants don’t get a tooth until their first birthday. The two lower central incisors are usually the first to erupt, followed by the top central incisors.

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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – The sucking reflex is natural for infants, and often begins in the womb.
As your child grows, they may be sucking their thumbs for a purpose. It can make them feel secure, happy or they could be soothing themselves to sleep.

Once the permanent teeth begin to erupt, thumbsucking can become an issue. It could interfere with the proper growth of their mouth, and teeth alignment. Changes to the roof of the mouth could also occur, depending on the intensity of your child’s thumbsucking.

For instance, if your child sleeps with their thumb resting in their mouth, they are less likely to have severe issues than children who do so aggressively.
“If your child’s thumbsucking habit is showing a noticeable change in their teeth, consult an orthodontist,” says braces specialist. “The earlier you intervene, the better.”
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