Fun Facts About Baby Teeth

Did you know that by the time a baby is 12 months old, he or she should have a dentist? Or that by 3 years old, all 20 baby teeth have usually come through? Learn more fun facts about baby teeth in today's blog!

Fun Facts About Baby Teeth

1. Sometimes, baby teeth are called "milk teeth." The name most likely comes from the teeth's color, which is a bright white, like that of milk. Baby teeth are usually brighter than permanent adult teeth.


2. Baby teeth are ready to be brushed as soon as they come in. If your baby's teeth are spaced so close together that they are touching, you should make sure to floss between them as well.

3. Baby teeth can start coming in as early as five months. By one year, children typically have six baby teeth present.

4. Sucking on pacifiers or thumbs can alter the position of teeth. However, this is usually not a major concern until the permanent teeth come in. Talk to your dentist for his or her recommendation on dealing with pacifiers/thumb sucking.

5. If your baby is teething, avoid using topical anesthetics with Benzocaine. The FDA warns that benzocaine can lead to a rare but very serious - and sometimes fatal - condition called methemoglobinemia, a disorder in which the amount of oxygen carried through the blood stream is greatly reduced. Talk to your dentist about safe medications and treatments to help soothe your baby's teething discomfort.

6. More than 40% of children develop cavities in their baby teeth. Introducing proper dental hygiene early on can help your children maintain good habits later on.

7. 1 in 3,000 babies is born with one or more teeth!

8. To help prevent tooth decay, place only formula, milk or breast milk in bottles, and have your child finish their bottle before going to bed.

9. You can start using a pea-sized amount of flouride toothpaste to brush your child's teeth at 3 years of age. Flouride helps make teeth stronger and prevents cavities. Talk to your dentist for more information on flouride.