Toddler’s molar teeth is a collective term for the three middle teeth. These are usually the first permanent molars (12, 14, and 30) that children grow starting at around 18 months to 6 years of age. Molars play a relatively minor role in chewing compared to other types of teeth, especially compared to incisors and canines. Their main function is grinding food into smaller pieces so it can be swallowed easily. This article explains the basics of a toddler’s molar teeth, including relevant anatomy, behavior, signs of problems, and treatment methods.
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When first molars erupt
When 2 year molars first erupt, they tend to be a little more stubborn than the other teeth in the mouth. These teeth are often underdeveloped and may not come through at the same time as other teeth.
When do toddlers get molars?
Molars usually start to erupt around age 6 or 7. However, it’s normal for them not to appear until a child is 8 or 9. This is because primary teeth have to fall out before permanent teeth can take their place. The amount of time it takes for this process varies widely from child to child.
When do molars come in toddler in rare cases? Molars can appear at an unusually early age (before four years old). This condition is called congenitally missing maxillary lateral incisors (CMMX). It’s also possible for the primary front teeth to be abnormally large, known as hyperdontia.
How do molars erupt?
When 2 year molars begin to grow, it starts out as a bud below the gum line. The gum grows around this bud until it becomes hard enough to push through the gum tissue at an angle. This is called “erupting.” As they erupt, 2 year molars often appear crooked or rotated in relation to each other because they have been growing under the gums at an angle. Once they’re completely out, they straighten out and look even again.
How long can 2 year molars symptoms last?
Teething molars how long does it last? Well, teething is a process that takes place over many months. This is because it takes time for the jawbone to grow and develop enough for the tooth roots to attach themselves into it. Once this happens, you will notice a sudden change in your child’s behavior as they begin to feel the pain caused by pressure on these new teeth. 2 year molars symptoms usually last around 3-4 weeks, although some children may experience 2 year molars symptoms for longer than others.
Why do some kids get their first molars late?
Most kids have 20 primary (baby) teeth. When the last of these are lost, usually between ages 11 and 14, the adult set of 32 permanent (adult) teeth begins to grow behind them. Some kids may be slow to get their permanent molars because their jawbone isn’t big enough yet for them to fit into place properly. A larger jaw will allow more room for bigger adult teeth as well as allow space for wisdom teeth later on down the road.
When do second molars come in?
Typically to answer the question of when do 2 year molars come in, the molars emerge around age 6 or 7, while second molars typically appear between ages 7 and 12, though this varies from child to child if you think about the question of how long does it take for molars to come in. In general, kids who have their first teeth earlier tend to get their second molars later than those who have them later.
Symptoms of TWO-YEAR MOLARS
When 2 year molars, they can cause a lot of pain and discomfort for your child. You might notice 2 year old teething symptoms like:
Pain
The most common symptom of 2 year molars is a pain in the jaw. The toddler molar pain may be mild or severe and can last a few days to weeks. Toddler molar pain or 2-year old teething symptoms may begin when the molar is coming in or months or even years later. Children may complain of earaches or headaches that they say are related to their toddler molar pain.
Inflammation
One of the most common 2-year old teething symptoms is inflammation of 2 year molars, which is caused by food getting stuck between the tooth and gum or by an injury to the gum tissue. The inflammation can be caused by bacteria or plaque on your 2 year old teething surface and should go away once you clean your child’s teeth properly.
Redness
The most common symptom of 2 year molars is redness in the gums. This is a sign that they are erupting or coming in. It can be painful, but it should not last long.
Irritability and fussiness
Irritability and fussiness – One of the first signs that your child has 2 year molars growth is that he will become irritable and fussy when he’s eating or drinking something hard like applesauce or yogurt. Irritability is among the most common two year molar symptoms that happens because your toddler may have trouble chewing hard foods because his teeth are coming in at such an awkward angle.
Two year molars fever
Two year molars fever is among the common two year molar symptoms associated with 2 year molars growth in children, especially if they have an infection going on inside their mouth or throat area. Fever can be treated with over-the-counter medication and other home remedies like resting in bed until the body starts to feel better again.
Increased drooling
You might notice an increase in drooling if your child has 2 year molars growth. This is because their tongue is too big for their mouth and will often move back and forth as they try to chew food or drink from a bottle or cup. This may make eating more difficult for your toddler.
Loss of appetite
If your child has a fever or other illness, keep an eye on his appetite because he may not want to eat or drink anything until he feels better. In most cases, though, if your child has lost his appetite for more than a day or two and it’s not related to a cold or other illness, it could be because of 2 year molars growth.
Bad breath
If a tooth has an abscess or infection, bad breath may develop because bacteria from the infected area seeps into your child’s bloodstream and spreads throughout his or her body. Bad breath from a tooth infection is often described as smelling like rotten eggs or sulfur — not very pleasant. If you notice this symptom in your child, take him or her to see a dentist immediately.
Pain remedies
It’s not uncommon for toddlers to experience some pain when 2 year molars emerge, but the good news is that there are a number of simple remedies that can help ease their discomfort. Pain remedies for developing molars in toddlers include:
Ice cubes
The magical ice cube can reduce swelling and inflammation, which often accompanies the emergence of 2 year molars. Simply wrap an ice cube in a clean cloth or towel and place it against the affected area for up to 15 minutes at a time.
Massage
Massaging your toddler’s jaw gently with your fingers will help relieve some of the pressure around the molars in toddlers caused by emerging 2 year molars. This can be done several times throughout the day by gently rubbing their gums with your thumb or forefinger from underneath their lower lip towards their earlobe.
Orajel (benzocaine) gel
If you have an Orajel (benzocaine) gel on hand, you can apply it directly to your child’s gums after brushing their teeth to numb any pain they might feel from new teeth pushing through the gums. Keep in mind that this may temporarily make it difficult for them to swallow properly, so avoid giving them anything other than water until the effects of teething at 2 years wear off.
Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen (children’s)
These medicines are available at any pharmacy without a prescription and are safe for teething at 2 years. Follow the directions on the label carefully since the dosage varies with age and weight.
Care instructions for baby molar teeth
If you have a teething baby or toddler, you might be wondering how to care for the new molars. Here’s what you need to know about taking care of 2 year molars growth:
Clean your child’s teeth two times every day
Clean your child’s teeth two times every day — in the morning and before bedtime — with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Use a circular motion while scrubbing each tooth surface gently but thoroughly, especially along the gum line where plaque tends to accumulate (never use rough scrubbing motions). Once you’ve brushed, rinse well with warm water from a cup or glass rather than from the tap (to prevent fluoride poisoning).
Use a small amount of children’s toothpaste with fluoride
Fluoride is added to most toothpastes because it helps protect the teeth from decay. Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens the tooth enamel and makes it more resistant to acid attacks from foods and drinks.
Children under age 2 should not use fluoride toothpaste, as their developing teeth are particularly sensitive to this chemical. However, once your child reaches 2 years old, you can start using fluoridated toothpastes, which help prevent cavities.
Children under age 2 should use only a pea-size drop of children’s fluoride toothpaste on their brush. You should supervise them while they brush and be sure they spit out any excess toothpaste after they’re done brushing.
Use a very soft toothbrush
When your baby’s 2 Year Old Molars come in, they’re covered with a thin layer of protective enamel, which is different from the enamel on adult teeth. The enamel covering baby molars is so thin that it can wear away easily if you don’t use a soft toothbrush. If you brush too hard or use abrasive toothpaste, you could damage your child’s 2 Year Old Molars. If you’re concerned about plaque and tartar buildup, ask your dentist for advice about how often to brush and how long to brush to prevent childhood caries.
If you’re concerned about cavities or other problems, like you want to prevent childhood caries, ask your dentist when it would be safe to start brushing with fluoride toothpaste.
Never put your baby to bed with a bottle
If your baby has been drinking from a bottle at nap time or bedtime, stop doing it immediately. A bottle could cause dental problems with 2 Year Old Molars by putting too much pressure on their molars and making them grow in crookedly. If your child has already developed this habit, try cutting back on how often they drink from the bottle instead of stopping entirely.
Choose sugarless teething biscuits and gels
Sugarless teething biscuits and gels are better for infants than traditional teething rings because they don’t contain as much moisture as a gel does. This means that they won’t get moldy as quickly, and they won’t get stuck in the mouth when trying to chew on them with their two year molars.
Eruption cysts
These look like red bumps or pimples on the gums around the emerging 2 Year Old Molars. They are caused by irritation between the tooth and gum tissue. They usually go away in one to two weeks but may leave a scar if left untreated, so consult with children preventive dentistry for perfect recovery.
Impacted teeth
This occurs when the 2 Year Old Molars don’t fully erupt through the bone because it’s blocked by another tooth or bone structure in its path. Impacted teeth can cause crowding, pain, and abscesses. They usually require surgery to remove them. If there is no room for toddler molars, it may need to be removed before it erupts (extracted) by a children preventive dentistry.
Eruption hematomas
An eruption hematoma is a collection of blood under the gum tissue just above emerging two year molars. The two year molars have been breaking through the gums, but there’s not enough room for it yet. This happens when there is too much pressure on the tooth while it’s trying to erupt through the gum tissue. The condition can be treated by a Luna Pediatric Dentistry in Richmond Texas, by applying pressure to stop bleeding, but you should always consult with a pediatric dentist in Richmond as soon as possible.
White spots
White spots on teeth are usually caused by fluoride exposure or trauma during the development of teeth in utero or during early childhood tooth formation. A white spot on toddler molars is generally considered harmless, but it’s still important to have it examined by a pediatric dentist in Richmond because they may be signs of more serious problems like hypoplasia (underdeveloped teeth) or enamel defects that could require treatment down the line if left untreated now so give your Luna Pediatric Dentistry in Richmond Texas a call.
Bleeding from the gums
If your child has bleeding gums, there may be an infection around one of their toddler molars. This is known as an acute dental abscess. A Sugar land kids dentist will need to drain the pus from the infected toddler molars, so it doesn’t spread throughout their mouth and cause further problems. If this happens, you should see your Sugar land kids dentist as soon as possible because it could lead to more serious complications like periapical abscesses or even osteomyelitis (bone infection).
This guide is to ensure that you are aware of the main concerns related to toddler molars. It is important to be able to distinguish tooth sensitivity from tooth decay and achieve early diagnosis. The symptoms and problems related to toddlers’ first molars must be known and monitored regularly.