Learn more about milk teeth and permanent teeth
Milk or deciduous teeth are the first set of teeth that erupt in humans. They start erupting at 6 months and erupt until 3 years. They are destined to shed off at a particular age. Adult teeth replace milk teeth at their specific time.
Milk teeth and permanent teeth are similar but have some notable differences. If you wonder what makes milk and permanent teeth different, hold on.
Read the information provided below as we discuss the differences, what makes milk teeth important, and how to care for milk teeth and permanent teeth- brought to you by Smayate Dental Clinic GK 1
Why milk teeth are essential?
Many people believe that milk teeth are not very important. They believe that they only last for some time and that we do not need to care for them. The fact is that milk teeth are the guiding posts for adult teeth.
Early shedding can cause alignment issues with the adult teeth. The milk teeth have a specific time of shedding. It happens because of the push from the adult teeth in the jaw bone.
Nearly two-thirds of the growth of adult teeth is essential before the milk teeth are shed off. In some cases, the milk teeth get damaged due to tooth decay.
If not treated timely, it can lead to early loss of milk teeth. This leads to creating space that gets closed before the adult teeth. So, treating and maintaining the milk teeth in their position is crucial.
Differences between milk teeth and permanent teeth
Let us discuss the differences between milk and adult teeth. We will also see how the treatment is modified based on these differences. Milk teeth are 20 in number, whereas the permanent teeth are 28-32 in number.
The milk teeth are smaller than permanent teeth. The root length is also smaller for milk teeth. The color of milk teeth is whiter when compared with permanent teeth. The outer layer of teeth is called enamel, which is thicker in adults.
The biting surface of the teeth has deeper pits and fissures, which makes it more susceptible to food lodgement, especially sticky gums and candies. Treatment protocols of preventive dentistry are available to us at Smayate Dental Clinic GK 1.
Our team of pediatric dental specialists suggests pit and fissure sealants to prevent tooth decay. Also, using fluoride therapy to strengthen your kids’ enamel is vital. Fluoride is an essential mineral that helps maintain teeth.
The transition between milk teeth and permanent teeth
The transition happens when adult teeth come in, and milk teeth shed. There comes a time when both types of teeth are present in the mouth.
Knowing the correct shedding time of the milk teeth is important. Tooth extraction is never indicated until the natural shedding time is near. In cases where milk teeth extraction is inevitable, space maintainers are indicated to maintain the space for adult teeth.
How do you care for milk teeth?
The milk teeth start erupting at 6 months of age, but we need to clean the gums from day one. Use sterile gauze to clean the gum pads gently with clean hands. Start with dentist visits once the first tooth erupts or there is a delay in the eruption.
For young children, use a very soft brush with fluoride toothpaste. Preferably, they should brush together with their parents. This will help you demonstrate and monitor their brushing technique. Book your appointment now to know more.