Of course, every little detail matters when it comes to your child’s health—including their baby teeth. Often underestimated because of…
Babies don’t need to see dentists, right? After all, they don’t even have teeth! Actually, babies do need dental checkups, and in many cases, the sooner the better. Okay, so you don’t have to grab baby and run to the dentist as soon as you get home from the hospital. However, it’s important to know that you also shouldn’t wait until your baby has her teeth before you schedule her first appointment. In fact, according to the American Dental Association (ADA), you can schedule your baby’s first dental visit as soon as you see that first little tooth surfacing. This event typically occurs before her first birthday. Here’s more information from dentists in South Orange that is especially helpful for new parents about baby’s first teeth, how to care for baby’s mouth, and when to whisk your little one off for her first dental checkup.
“Do all kids suck their thumb, or is my kid unusual?” asks a worried mom, but the pediatrician assures her it is normal for most babies and toddlers to suck their thumbs, in fact, they also like to suck on their fingers, hands, or items such as pacifiers, especially while they are teething. Generally, most children stop sucking their thumb on their own at age 3 to 6 years.
For adults, who are taught at an early age to keep germy hands off the face, especially during cold and flu season, the idea of thumb-sucking and the spread of germs is pretty horrifying, especially if you are a germaphobe.
Why do Babies Suck Their Thumbs?
Babies have a natural urge to suck, and this urge usually decreases after the age of 6 months. Many babies continue sucking their thumbs as a means to soothe themselves and continue the habit as toddlers, as a means to comfort themselves when they feel hungry, afraid, restless, quiet, sleepy, or are bored.
How Long Is It “Socially Acceptable” For a Child to Suck Their Thumb?
Teeth are not quite as unique as snowflakes, however, they do vary in size, shape and location in the jaw. These differences in the teeth are what give our face shape and form and how we chew, speak or smile. Did you know that we are born with 20 baby teeth (a/k/a “primary teeth”) that will begin to “erupt” or break through at about 6 months, and, by age 12, all 32 of our permanent teeth have usually erupted?
A Child’s Smile
There are many gap-toothed photos of you in your parents’ family albums. Face it, all of a sudden your “cuteness quotient” goes down substantially when you begin losing those baby teeth. The first teeth to go are the lower center teeth (a/k/a the lower center incisors) at approximately 6 to 7 years old. Next are the top center pair. It’s scary looking when you resemble a Halloween pumpkin, but, at least the Tooth Fairy helps make this time bearable. Happily, a baby tooth typically doesn’t loosen until the permanent tooth below pushes it up to take its place.