When do teeth come in

Enamel is the hardest substance in the body and protects the more sensitive inner parts of the tooth. Underneath this is the dentine — a sensitive substance that makes up most of the tooth. Dentine is a hard substance, though not quite as hard as enamel.

Dentine protects the inner part of the tooth, called the pulp. The pulp is where each tooth's blood supply and nerve endings are found. The blood supply is what keeps the teeth alive and healthy. The nerve endings send messages to the brain, such as whether you're eating something hot or cold, or if you have a decayed or damaged tooth. The pulp goes all the way into the root of the tooth, which is hidden under your gum.

Cementum covers the root of the tooth, and periodontal fibres connect the tooth to the jawbone. Now, read about how to look after your teeth.

This is followed by the second central incisor on the lower jaw. This is followed by the first 4 molars, and the remaining bottom 2 lateral incisors. Lateral incisors are beside lateral to the central incisors. Next, the 4 first molars come in. Often, after the child reaches 2 years old, the 4 second molars the last of the baby teeth appear. The teeth on the upper jaw often erupt 1 to 2 months after the same tooth on the lower jaw. There are a total of 20 primary teeth. Often, about 1 tooth comes in per month once the teeth start coming in.

There is normally a space between all the baby teeth. Some people think that teething causes other symptoms, such as diarrhoea , but there's no evidence to support this.

You know your baby best. Get medical advice if they have any symptoms that are causing you concern. Read more about spotting the signs of serious illness in babies and toddlers. At birth, the baby has a full set of 20 primary teeth 10 in the upper jaw, 10 in the lower jaw hidden under the gums.

Primary teeth are also known as baby teeth, milk teeth or deciduous teeth. The names of the different types of teeth are:. In babies, tooth eruption is also called teething.

The timing of tooth eruption differs from child to child. For example, one child may cut their first tooth when only a few months old, while another may not start teething until they are 12 months old or more. The exact timing may be different from child to child but the order of tooth development is more consistent. Along with the tendency to put things in their mouths, this makes them more prone to illnesses. Symptoms of common childhood illnesses such as changes in sleep and eating patterns, fussiness, rash, drooling, runny nose and diarrhoea are often linked to teething when that might not be the cause.

Teething takes about 8 days, which includes 4 days before and 3 days after the tooth comes through the gum.

You may see a blue-grey bubble on the gum where the tooth is about to appear. This is called an eruption cyst and will usually go away without treatment. During this time, it can be tough to keep children comfortable. Teething gels containing benzocaine are also not recommended for use in children. Research also suggests that teething gels may not relieve teething pain, rather the act of massaging it into the gum is what helps.

Some parents may feel that caring for baby primary teeth isn't as important as caring for adult permanent teeth, simply because baby teeth fall out. However, baby teeth are very important. They allow children to chew food and speak properly, and they reserve the spaces in the gums for future adult teeth.

Tooth decay is preventable. The risk of developing dental decay can be significantly reduced by good oral hygiene habits and a healthy diet from a young age.