Parents are happy when their child is growing the healthy way. This includes the transition of losing baby teeth and the coming in of permanent teeth. Permanent teeth usually come in after a certain period. However, for some children, there are cases of the teeth taking longer to appear. This can leave you nervous as a parent. When this happens, there is no cause for alarm as it is normal. Instead, visit your family dentist to examine your child’s jaws. There are several reasons why the process takes longer. Here is a look at some possible causes.
Nutrition
Your child’s diet directly affects the speed of growth of permanent teeth. Nutrients like calcium found in milk, vegetables, and other meals that determine teeth development should be included in their food to help teeth push their way through gums. Also, avoid giving them foods high in sugar, like candy, which slows the growth of permanent teeth.
Genetics
It is common for children to have physical growth similar to that of their parents due to genetics. Coming in of teeth is no exception. If your child is taking longer to have permanent teeth, chances are that you also experienced the same delay. You can ask your relatives if this is the case. Also, if your child’s milk teeth took longer to come out, permanent teeth may also take longer.
Gender
Parents often compare their child’s growth to that of others. However, for most children, teeth development depends on their sex. Studies show that girls tend to develop milk teeth faster than boys. This means that their permanent teeth will come in earlier than those of their counterparts.
Insufficient space
Milk teeth are generally smaller compared to permanent teeth. This means there is space left to accommodate permanent teeth as they come in. However, there are instances where the space left is insufficient. This can be solved by your family dentist. They may remove milk teeth or create baby braces. This will create more space for permanent teeth to grow without restriction.
Teeth following the wrong path
Permanent teeth naturally follow the same path that milk teeth take. However, they may fail to grow in the right path and get stuck below milk teeth. An x-ray will identify the path taken to help remove the milk teeth on top, leaving space for permanent teeth to grow.