Maintaining good care of your teeth will serve you well for years to come but isn’t it funny to consider that your first set of teeth are not the same teeth that you’ll have in old age? Our teeth go through a lot of different stages. From baby milk teeth to strong adult teeth, we experience a cycle of growth at all ages.
Here’s how your teeth change as you get older.
Did you know that babies' teeth develop before they are born? However, they don’t come through until around 6month of age and by 3 years old most children have a full set of 20 teeth. One of the signs that your baby is teething is that they start to chew on their fingers, toys or other objects they get hold of. This period can be distressing for the baby and parent, however, there are a few things you can try to relieve pain such as teething rooms, soothing gel and more.
When a child gets to age 5 or 6, the milk teeth start falling out as the bigger permanent teeth push their way through. Slowly, the permanent teeth grow in and take the place of the primary teeth to create a set of 32 teeth which is 12 more than the milk set. By about age 12 or 13, most kids have lost all of their baby teeth and have a full set of permanent teeth. During teens, this is a common time for children to be given braces that will fix alignment issues or straighten out the teeth.
The wisdom teeth make up 4 teeth within the full set of 32 and most people have 4 wisdom teeth (1 in each corner). Often, they take much longer to grow than permanent teeth - in fact, this can go on for years! They usually grow through the gums during the late teens or early twenties and while they are usually problem-free, they can grow at an angle or cause problems for the other surrounding teeth.
As you get older your teeth and gums can change a lot. It’s important to continue with regular check-ups to minimise underlying oral problems and keep your teeth looking and feeling healthy. Natural teeth can become loose during old age and dentures are a great solution for many elderly individuals.
At Manor Road Dental in Swansea, we are proud to be one of the leading dentists in Swansea, as well as offering hygiene and emergency services. We know that you cannot always predict when dental work may be needed. Consequently, that’s why we offer our own monthly dental health plans to ensure you can seek treatment whenever you are in need of it. Get in touch with us today for more information.