Blog Post

Children and Primary Molars

John Adams • Jul 29, 2016
dental routine

Helping Your Child Through the Growth of Primary Molars

By the time children begin to cut their first molars, many parents are already adept at handling their child’s tooth and mouth pain from teething. Although this may be true, it is important for parents to remember that the cutting of molars is often much more painful and uncomfortable for the child than when his or her other primary teeth came in – molars have a much larger surface area, and the “eruption” process of these teeth is much different than that of the child’s other primary teeth.

What Do Primary Molars Do?

Primary molars are often the last of a child’s teeth to come in, and they are also very often the last teeth to fall out. These molars help make room in the child’s mouth for his or her permanent teeth including the first, second, and third set of molars. A child’s first set of permanent molars play an important role in shaping the child’s smile and lower jaw – these teeth often act as “placeholders” for other teeth that grow into the mouth later.

What Pain is Caused by Primary Molars?

When teething begins, the area surrounding that first tooth can become swollen and red – often times, the very first tooth is the most painful and sensitive for children. With that being said, the eruption of molars can also be a painful process. Unlike that first incisor, which can easily cut through the gums, the molars have a larger and much duller surface area, making it more difficult for them to break through the gum’s surface. This can make the eruption of molars very painful for some children.

Oral Hygiene with Primary Molars

Once children’s primary molars have grown in, they have their full set of 20 primary teeth. With these additional teeth, they have more teeth to clean, meaning they need to update their oral hygiene routine. Additionally, an increased number of teeth means an increased chance for plaque and bacteria to build up in the mouth. Since a child’s teeth are always changing, here are some general tips to help hit the important milestones in your child’s oral health journey:

  • Make sure to schedule your child’s first dental appointment with their first tooth or by his or her first birthday.
  • After the first visit, make sure to schedule check-ups and cleanings every six months.
  • Begin using toothpaste with your child when his or her first tooth comes in.
  • Make sure you or your child is brushing the child’s teeth daily.

If you or a loved one is in need of a visit to the dentist, you can sign up for our New Hampshire Family Discount Dental Plan and save as much as 20 percent on your dental bills. For more information, please click here. We also offer Employee Discount Dental Plans for business owners offering dental to their employees.

Copyright: alenkasm / 123RF Stock Photo


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