The change of teeth in children takes place in different phases. There is a fixed sequence in which the milk teeth are replaced by the permanent teeth.
In the time of the change of teeth there is a change of the whole body, which is also accompanied by mental changes. In some cases, additional problems, such as teeth growing crooked or gum inflammation can be added.
The change of teeth in children is classically associated with the transition from infancy to school age . Although in most cases the change of teeth takes place without pain, many children have to struggle with their psyche during this time. Why is that?
In our guide you will get a lot of important information about the change of teeth in a child. We explain at what age the change of teeth begins and how long it takes until the permanent teeth are completely erupted. In addition, we show you what problems can be associated with the change of teeth.
1. Milk teeth vs. Permanent dentition – The most important differences
In contrast to the deciduous dentition, the permanent dentition consists not of 20, but of a total of 32 teeth.
In the course of life, people have two sets of teeth: milk teeth and permanent teeth. The permanent teeth often remain with us into old age. Already in the womb, the predispositions for the respective dentition develop.
As a baby, a person does not yet have teeth. This is also a good thing, since these would injure the mother's breast during breastfeeding. The first small teeth do not appear until the age of six to eight months.
The milk teeth develop from front to back. This means that first the incisors, then the canines and then the molars are formed. At about 30 months the development of the milk teeth is completed. This consists of a total of 20 teeth.
Attention: Even if the baby teeth fall out again, they should be cared for as well as possible. Regular tooth brushing is therefore enormously important. If caries forms, this can negatively influence the further formation of the jaws.
The permanent dentition, including the wisdom teeth, consists of a total of 32 teeth. This means that the old teeth are not only replaced, but also new ones are added, the so-called growth teeth.
A Child-friendly video on the subject of teeth and tooth change can be found here:
2. The change of teeth takes place in different phases
The permanent teeth dissolve the roots of the milk teeth, so that these fall out.
From the age of about five years, most children start to change their teeth. The roots of the milk teeth are dissolved by the new teeth, so that space can be created for the second, permanent teeth. This means that the Milk teeth gradually wiggle and then fall out.
In the permanent dentition there are both replacement teeth and additional teeth. While the replacement teeth replace the milk teeth, the growth teeth increase the total number of teeth. The formation of the entire permanent dentition can take up to 30 years. last until the age of one.
The Tooth change goes through a total of three different phases, Which, however, are always in the same order:
First phase: At the beginning
the first molar tooth, the so-called stock tooth, emerges. Subsequently, the milk incisors fall out, whereupon the permanent ones break through. In some cases, the The permanent teeth even appear when the old teeth have not yet fallen out. Second phase: The second phase begins at about nine years of age. In a period of about 3 years
the molars and the canines break through. Third phase: In this last phase
only the four wisdom teeth are formed. How long it takes for these teeth to erupt is very individual and cannot be predicted. A few people do not have any wisdom teeth until they are very old.
The proDente initiative provides an interactive graphic on the subject of the change of teeth. There can be Parents together with their children look at how the change of teeth proceeds. You can find this graphic here.
The times given for the individual phases are only guidelines. Therefore, do not worry if the change of teeth in your child is delayed.
3. Care for teeth properly to avoid problems
During the change of teeth, the care of the teeth is especially important.
As a rule, the change of teeth is without complications. However, you can support your child by gently wiggle the loose milk teeth at regular intervals. In this way the tooth can fall out faster and more easily.
Children are usually happy to see their teeth fall out, as they can wait excitedly for the new teeth to appear. It is best to provide your child with a can in which he or she can collect the old teeth.
In contrast to the first teething, the change of teeth often does not cause any pain, as the milk tooth is a so-called placeholder. This allows the permanent teeth to simply push their way into the gap. For some children, however, the change of teeth can This can lead to disturbances and problems, which can have very unpleasant consequences.
Fluid toothpaste helps with the change of teeth
Fluids are enormously important to prevent tooth decay. They harden the tooth enamel, making it more resistant to acids. A fluoride toothpaste should already be used for milk teeth.
The most common problem is that the permanent teeth do not erupt in the intended place. This can cause the gums to become inflamed, resulting in bad breath, nausea and pain. If the roots of the milk teeth are not dissolved as a result and the teeth cannot fall out on their own, they must be extracted by a dentist.
The misalignments can be caused by a too narrow jaw or permanent external prere. The misalignments can best be corrected by inserting braces.
Intensive dental care is necessary during the entire period of tooth change. This is mainly due to the fact that the enamel maturation of the permanent teeth is not yet complete. If the hygiene of the mouth is inadequate, this can lead to inflamed gums, tooth decay or periodontitis. Therefore, see a dentist regularly for prophylaxis.
4. The change of teeth also affects the psyche of the children
During the change of teeth many children suffer from sudden mood swings.
But not only the body, but also the psyche can be affected by the change of teeth in children. Due to the change of the body there is also an inner turmoil. Many parents report that their child is often restless, sad or even aggressive during this period.
In this case, it is probably the so-called gap-tooth puberty. This often begins at preschool age. The children begin to rebel and express the desire for more independence.
The following symptoms are indicative of gap-toothed puberty:
– a new loose tooth – sudden tantrums and mood swings – increased need for independence – the desire to rest and be alone – change in external appearance
There are many ways you can support your child during the time of teething. It is important that you give your child security and the feeling that you are always there. In order to strengthen the psyche, external changes can also be helpful in some cases. A new hairstyle or a different style of dress often contributes to a whole new body feeling.