As a rule, the process when temporary teeth are replaced by permanent ones begins in children at the age of six. But modern kids have one feature - accelerated development. Therefore, the loss of milk teeth in children of 5 years is a common occurrence in our time. During this period of a child's life, parents ask many questions: is it necessary to treat temporary teeth? Can problems arise and when should I contact the dentist? What is the pattern of loss of milk teeth in children? How long does this process take?
How do temporary teeth change?
It is a well-known fact that the norm for the number of teeth for an adult is 32. Why do children have only 20 of them? The fact is that at 6 months, when the first teeth begin to erupt in the baby, his jaw is very small. As the child grows, it lengthens. And during the shift period, two pairs of teeth additionally appear in each jaw. They are called premolars and are locatedbetween canines and molars. As a result, the number of teeth increases from 20 to 28. And where are the other 4? These are the so-called wisdom teeth, and they will grow much later, after 17 years.
The process of changing teeth is mostly painless. It turns out that temporary incisors, canines and molars have roots that dissolve in a certain period. As a result, milk teeth lose their support, become loose and fall out one by one. They are replaced by molars, which have a denser structure, hard enamel and have greater endurance in comparison with temporary teeth. This is how a child's body adapts to adult food. The order of loss of milk teeth in children, the scheme and timing of this process will be given below.
First signs of changing temporary teeth
Due to some signs, it can be determined that the child will soon begin the process of losing milk teeth:
- The gaps between the teeth are increasing. Due to the lengthening of the growing jaw, temporary incisors, canines and molars are at an increasing distance from each other. The reason for contacting the dentist is that the child is already six years old, and the intervals have remained unchanged. To guide parents in terms, a special scheme for the loss of milk teeth in children has been developed. The age and sequence of replacement are described in it.
- Reeling of milk tooth. Approximately two years before the onset of the loss of temporary incisors, canines and molars, their roots begin to dissolve. When this process changes tothe neck of the tooth, the latter gradually begins to stagger.
- The eruption of a permanent tooth next to the milk one. Sometimes it happens that a temporary incisor, canine or molar has not yet fallen out, and its root heir is already visible nearby. Dentists consider this phenomenon harmless. And yet, in the case when a permanent tooth erupted, and the milk one, located next to it, did not fall out within three months, you should consult a dentist.
Terms and procedure for the loss of temporary teeth
Let's see how molars are replaced in children: loss at what age? What is the replacement scheme? And how long is this process? Experts say that the timing for each child is individual. The total duration of the change of incisors, molars and canines is six to eight years. On average, the onset of the loss of "milk jugs" in girls falls on the age of six, in boys a little later. However, today's children are developing rapidly. Therefore, the pattern of loss of milk teeth in children can be tied to the age of five. Also, the start date of the process of changing incisors, molars and canines and its duration depend on the genetic heredity of the child. It affects the influence of climatic conditions, dietary habits and the quality of drinking water.
Below is a graphical representation of the sequence in which primary milk teeth are replaced in children. The fallout scheme, the photo of which is attached, shows that the incisors are replaced first, then the first molars, then the turn of the canines comes, andlast on the list are the second molars.
At six or seven years, when the process of changing milkmen starts, the central incisors fall out first. And first it happens with the teeth of the lower jaw (in the figure they are shown at number 1), and after them comes the turn of the upper ones (at number 2).
Further, the lateral incisors located on the upper jaw fall out (number 3 in the image), followed by the same lower teeth (number 4). They change when the child is seven or eight years old.
Then the scheme of loss of milk teeth in children involves the change of the first molars of the upper and lower jaws (shown in the figure under numbers 5 and 6). This occurs at the age of nine or eleven.
Next, at nine to twelve years old, according to the norm, the fangs of the upper jaw (number 7 in the image) should fall out, and after that, the same teeth from the bottom (shown at number 8).
The last, as evidenced by the pattern of loss of milk teeth in children, is the turn of the second molars of the lower jaw (number 9 in the figure), and then the upper one (number 10). This happens at the age of ten or twelve.
Why is it important to keep temporary teeth?
Baby teeth are more susceptible to the negative effects of caries than molars. And complications of this disease occur quite often. The child himself cannot realize that his tooth enamel is damaged. That is, for the diagnosis of caries, a visit to the dentist is necessary. Parents should be very responsible about this. After alladvanced diseases of milk teeth is a direct path to their loss, which in itself is a bad factor.
Temporary incisors, canines and molars are the "keepers" of the place for their native replacements. In the event of the loss of a temporary tooth, its neighbors begin to move to fill the resulting void. After that, the indigenous followers, who will grow in place of the existing dairy ones, will not have enough space for normal development, and they will crawl on top of each other, forming an uneven row. It is also possible to disturb their growth, shift to the side and form an abnormal bite.
Removal of a milk tooth at the dentist: possible causes
A good pediatric dentist will never allow a baby tooth to be removed if it can be cured and saved. However, there are situations when this is indispensable. Extraction of a temporary tooth is justified in the following cases:
- Severe destruction of the "milk jug" and the impossibility of its restoration.
- Presence of a basal cyst of a temporary tooth.
- The development of inflammation, which can later lead to problems with the molar.
- The eruption of a permanent tooth when the milk tooth has not fallen out.
- Severe wobble of the milk incisor, canine or molar, which causes pain and discomfort to the child.
Premature loss of temporary teeth
Above, the age limits were determined, in which milk teeth are replaced in children, the pattern of loss. 5 years is a time limit, after which the lossan incisor, canine or molar is no longer considered premature, despite the fact that the norm for the beginning of the change of temporary teeth in pediatric dentistry is considered to be when a child reaches the age of six.
The reasons for the premature loss of milk jugs may be as follows:
- Injury. The child lost a tooth as a result of mechanical impact (fall, impact).
- Abnormal bite, which in pediatric dentistry is designated by the term "deep". The upper jaw covers the lower jaw, which is subjected to excessive pressure, and there is a possibility of losing them.
- The onslaught of neighboring teeth. This happens when the "milkmen" have grown incorrectly. The cause of premature prolapse is similar to the previous paragraph - excessive pressure on the temporary incisor, canine or molar.
- Caries in a neglected state. In this case, the milk tooth simply crumbles.
- Intentional loosening of a temporary incisor, canine or molar by a child.
Delayed shedding of temporary teeth
There is a situation when milk teeth are in no hurry to fall out. The reason for this may be the child's heredity, a severe infectious disease, rickets in a baby or an unbalanced diet and, as a result, a lack of vitamins and calcium in the body.
A variant is possible when the milk tooth has not yet fallen out, and next to it its root replacement is already beginning to erupt. It's called shark teeth. There's nothing wrong, butonly in the case when, within three months, the “milk jug” still gives way to a permanent tooth. Otherwise, a visit to the dentist is necessary.
Also, a trip to the dentist is necessary if the child is already eight years old, and his milk teeth are still in place.
What to do after a temporary tooth falls out
Usually, the loss of a milk tooth is preceded by its reeling, so for a child such a moment will not come as a surprise. After the loss of a temporary canine, incisor or molar, a wound forms at the site of its growth. To stop the blood, a sterile cotton swab or gauze should be applied to the hole. The bleeding will stop after 3-5 minutes.
Within 2 hours after falling out, you should not feed the child, and after this time, you need to take warm food of a homogeneous composition for two to three days. Solid components and large fragments should be excluded in order to avoid injury to the unprotected gum area. After eating, rinse your mouth gently. The clotted blood plug formed at the site of tooth loss will fall out on its own within two to three days. It is strictly forbidden to extract it mechanically.
What not to do after a temporary tooth falls out
After the "milk jug" falls out, the child should not be allowed to gnaw on very hard foods, such as nuts, crackers, caramel. It is also forbidden to use antiseptic agents (hydrogen peroxide or alcohol solutions) for cauterizationformed wound. Do not touch the bleeding hole with your fingers to prevent infection.
If after the loss of a temporary incisor, canine or molar, the child has a fever, this is a reason to immediately contact a pediatrician. And during the period of changing milk teeth, you should contact the dentist at least twice a year for a preventive examination.
Caring for teeth during their shift
To keep milk teeth he althy and he althy, the following is recommended:
- Brush your teeth with a soft brush twice a day.
- Teach your baby to rinse his mouth every time he has eaten.
- Include dairy and sour-milk products in your child's diet to enrich the body with calcium.
During the period of change of temporary incisors, canines and molars in a baby, adults ask themselves the following questions: when do molars begin to be replaced by primary milk teeth in children? Drop pattern? And what is the duration of this process? The answers to them are in this article. The main thing for parents is to remember that you need to visit a pediatric dentist twice a year for a preventive examination in order to timely identify problems, if any. This will keep your baby's teeth nice and he althy.
