A guide to your child’s dental milestones, from baby teeth to braces
At Middleborough Dental Care, we believe that the more you know about oral health, the better we can work with you to ensure you enjoy a lifetime of healthy smiles.
Everyone’s dental journey is different, impacted by a range of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, so every time you come in for a regular check-up, we can give you tailored information that applies to your teeth and your overall dental health.
Once you become a parent, it’s normal for you to start thinking even more about dental development and to ask a lot more questions about your child’s teeth than you ever did about your own.
When it comes to guiding children through their formative stages of dental growth and oral health, it’s important that parents know what to expect and the role they can play in ensuring their children’s teeth have the best chance to be strong and healthy for their lifetime.
There are a few significant milestones we need to monitor
Throughout childhood, we want to be sure that all of the milestones for normal growth and development are met and, if there is an indication that there could be an issue, start doing something about it as soon as possible.
While some of the milestones in the development of a child’s teeth might coincide with a regular six-monthly check-up, we encourage separate visits at certain ages to allow us to measure, monitor, and manage (if necessary) specific aspects of dental growth.
If we extend through to teenage years, there are six stages we can identify, some of which overlap.
| 0-3 years | Teething and baby teeth |
| 3-6 years | Caring for baby teeth |
| 6-12 years | Mixed dentition phase |
| 7-11 years | Monitoring dental alignment |
| 11-16 years | Orthodontic treatment and braces |
| 16 years+ | Transition to adult teeth and long-term care |
Let’s look at each of those stages in more detail, including what actions you should be taking.
Teething and baby teeth (0–3 Years)
A child’s first tooth usually appears between 4 and 7 months of age, with the full set of 20 primary (baby) teeth typically visible by the age of three.
You should start gently cleaning your baby’s gums with a soft cloth before the first teeth erupt. Once teeth appear, you can use a soft-bristled baby toothbrush and water (no toothpaste).
When teething, babies often become fussy and irritable. They will drool more and sometimes present with a slight fever. Chilled teething rings or chewing on a wet cloth or bib can help soothe the discomfort of the erupting teeth. You can also gently massage their gums.
Please schedule your child’s first dental visit before they turn one, or at least within 6 months of the first tooth appearing.
In these early years, you should also focus on a good diet for dental development and it’s a good idea to wean your toddler off his or her dummy as soon as you can (and discourage thumb sucking).
Caring for baby teeth (3–6 Years)
The healthy development of a child’s primary teeth is important not only for a well-aligned bite, and therefore the chewing of food, but also has an impact on speech development.
Teaching your child healthy dental care habits as early as you can is crucial, as cavities can occur even in baby teeth.
Help your child learn to brush twice daily with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. You should start by brushing for them, then guide their hand, before letting them do it themselves while you watch and encourage them. You should start flossing once their teeth begin to touch.
A good way to develop a healthy oral care regimen is to brush your teeth alongside your child so that they can see that this is what everyone does. We encourage you to supervise brushing at least some of the time until the age of six to ensure that they are maintaining proper technique.
Mixed dentition phase (6–12 Years)
The first permanent molars are sometimes referred to as “six-year molars”. This is around the age primary teeth begin falling out for most children, to be replaced by permanent teeth.
As the permanent teeth start to appear, it’s even more important than before to encourage regular brushing and flossing habits, while this six-year period is perhaps the most important time of your child’s life to maintain twice-yearly dental checkups.
We suggest you continue to monitor their full two-minute brushing and encourage them to drink tap water and milk, rather than sugary drinks.
Monitoring dental alignment (7–11 Years)
An orthodontic screening around age eight helps us determine if there are signs of any issue for which early treatment is the right step.
If we identify an issue with an underdeveloped jaw, overbite, crossbite, or a habit such as thumb sucking or tongue thrusting, early intervention between the ages of eight and 10 can be highly beneficial.
In such cases, we may recommend functional appliances – removable or fixed devices that help guide jaw growth and improve bite alignment. By working with your child’s natural growth, functional appliances can reduce the need for more extensive treatment later and support better facial development, improved breathing, and clearer speech.
Keep in mind that the goal of early orthodontic care is not always to avoid a need for braces in the future but to create the best possible foundation for your child’s dental development.
Orthodontic treatment and braces (11–16 Years)
Most children who need braces start treatment between 11 and 14. Depending on your child’s needs, the treatment might last for a year or up to three years, with follow-up visits for adjustments and monitoring.
If your child does need braces, it’s important that you continue to emphasise oral hygiene, because braces can trap food and encourage the build-up of plaque.
Regardless of any treatment your child needs, orthodontic or other, this is a period during which you should continue to reinforce messages around limiting sugary and processed foods, soft drinks and sports drinks.
Transition to adult teeth and long-term care (16+ Years)
While most of a person’s dental development happens before the age of 16, there is one more stage, because wisdom teeth may begin to erupt between the ages of 17 and 25. If the arrival of wisdom teeth results in crowding or significant discomfort, you will want to discuss their removal.
Although some people don’t get wisdom teeth, for most of us, all 32 permanent teeth should be in place by the time we turn 25.
As your teenager becomes more independent, you should continue regular dental checkups and cleanings to help reinforce the fact that these are routines designed for lifetime oral health.
We’ll see you for that check-up soon
If you only make an appointment when something’s wrong, any treatment could take longer, be more invasive, and cost more. That’s why we include the point about “regular check-ups” whenever we explain the correct oral health regimen.
Sure, we’d say the habit of twice-daily brushing with a good toothbrush and toothpaste, along with regular flossing, is the absolute non-negotiable top priority to instil in your kids, but if they don’t get used to seeing a good family dentist regularly, they could end up with some significant oral health issues … and none of us wants that.
Book your child’s next check-up now via our quick and simple online appointment booking interface.
We look forward to seeing you soon.