As parents, every milestone for your child is essential. If you have an infant, you’re probably waiting with anticipation for the small white bud that signals the arrival of their first tooth. So when should you start worrying about baby teeth that aren’t coming out? A delay shouldn’t be a concern for most kids with no teeth. But in some infants, there may be underlying causes for this condition.

Babies are born with most of their teeth already formed within their gums. These teeth usually begin to break through their gums’ surface by six months old. The two lower front teeth emerge first, followed by the four upper front teeth. Then the remaining two lower front teeth come in. The remaining teeth generally arrive two at a time, one on each side of the mouth. And by the age of three, nearly all children have a complete set of 20 primary teeth.

You should consider the delay abnormal if your child doesn’t have any teeth by nine months old; you should take them to see a pediatric dental office. 

There are some reasons why your child’s teeth might not have erupted within the standard timeframe. Genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome, Cleidocranial dysostosis, and Apert syndrome, can cause poorly formed teeth and delay tooth eruption. Nutritional deficiencies, premature birth, or low birth weight can also cause delayed tooth eruption and enamel defects.

A delay is simply an opportunity for parents to enjoy their baby’s gummy smile for a little longer. Nonetheless, if your child’s baby teeth come in late, make an appointment with a dentist. A pediatric dentist will examine your child’s mouth and may decide to take dental X-rays and refer you to other specialists to run tests to ensure there are no underlying genetic, developmental, or health issues.

Book an appointment with our Scarborough dental office for all your oral health needs: https://drsalimkapadiadental.com/online-appointments/