L.A. and Santa Monica Orthodontics Specialist Discusses Tooth Development from Birth to Age 3

LOS ANGELES, BEVERLY HILLS AND SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA-- Although they are not permanent, a child’s primary, or baby, teeth play an important role in development.

Healthy baby teeth are necessary for chewing food and holding a space in the jaw until the adult teeth erupt. That means that what goes on in a child’s mouth from birth to age 3 can play a significant role in the child’s adult teeth development, said Los Angeles and Santa Monica orthodontics specialist Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen.

Baby Teeth At Birth
Except for a few isolated occasions, babies are born with their teeth embedded in the gums and not showing, Nikaeen, Santa Monica Invisalign provider said. The front teeth begin to erupt by the time the infant is between four and eight months old. From six months on, children average about four new teeth every four months, and within a year or so, crowns have formed on all of a child’s baby teeth.
Baby teeth first erupt in the front of the mouth, Nikaeen, Santa Monica Invisible Braces Expert said. They erupt in pairs and alternate between the upper and lower jaws.
“Sometimes it appears that baby teeth are crooked because as they erupt, they can do so at an angle,” said the Los Angeles and Santa Monica Orthodontist. “This isn’t anything to worry about because they will straighten out in due time.”
A majority of children have obtained all 20 of their primary teeth by age 3. It is at this point that a child’s tongue begins to adapt to the shape of the teeth and his/her swallowing pattern will change to an adult pattern.
The enamel on baby teeth is not as strong or as thick as the enamel on permanent teeth, and this makes them more susceptible to tooth decay. It is not entirely unusual for children to develop tooth decay as soon as their teeth erupt, said the Los Angeles and Santa Monica, CA braces expert.
Approximately half of all 2-year-olds have at least one cavity, according to information on the topic posted on Answers.com.
Some studies that show that a baby’s teeth and jaw develop more completely when they are fed breast milk instead of formula, Nikaeen said. Because of that, there are some steps pregnant and nursing mothers can take to promote their baby's long-term dental development.
Mothers should not take over-the-counter or prescribed drugs during the first three months of their pregnancy and they should eat a healthy diet, according to the ADA. They also should not use tobacco products, consume alcohol or eat large quantities of sugar.
Sometimes tooth decay is promoted when children are given sugary drinks in their baby bottles, particularly when they are given a bottle prior to going to sleep. Drinks with high sugar content that are left to sit on the teeth become food for bacteria that exist in the mouth, according to the ADA. The bacteria and sugars combine to create acids that can attack the teeth for 20 minutes or longer after consuming the sugary beverage. This can ultimately lead to decay.
A 1999 article in Pediatric Dentistry quoted a study that had determined that breast milk does not promote tooth decay.
It is important to take steps to prevent tooth decay in babies because decay can lead to tooth loss. If a child loses a baby tooth too early, it may cause the surrounding teeth to shift into the vacant space and create crowding problems when the adult teeth start to erupt, according to information posted on the American Dental Association Web site.
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Learn More
Next month’s article will cover the topic of tooth development in children during the stage of losing the baby teeth and getting their adult teeth. If you would like to learn more about tooth development in children or you would like more information on Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen, please visit her Web site: http://www.invisibraces.com/ or call her office for a free consultation: (310) 444-1113.

About Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen
Dr. Nikaeen, Santa Monica Lingual Braces Expert, graduated with honors from dental school in 1993 and received a doctorate in dental surgery (DDS). She gained experience practicing general dentistry for several years before attending Columbia University School of Dentistry and Oral Surgeons in New York, where she earned her post-doctoral education in orthodontics and received an orthodontic specialty certificate.

In addition to running her practice, Dr. Nikaeen, Santa Monica Braces Expert, is a faculty member at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) Orthodontic Department and teaches orthodontic residents.

Dr. Nikaeen’s Los Angeles Orthodontics practice serves patients throughout Southern California, including Beverly Hills and Santa Monica.

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