Seeing your baby achieve all their developmental milestones is a proud moment for parents. In fact, it takes only 12 months for your baby to grow from a newborn to a toddler, with each subsequent month offering new developments, and that makes parents all the more curious about what to expect from their little one next. While your baby may achieve some milestones such as crawling and grabbing at things sooner than you think, other developments, such as teething may take some time.
All developmental milestones, including teething, follow a set pattern, but it is not uncommon to see late teething in babies. Late teething in babies may be caused due to certain factors, but most of these cases are benign and don’t need any medical intervention. We have listed some of the possible reasons for your baby’s teeth coming in late and complications that may arise due to this condition.
Normal Teething Chart For Babies
Understanding the normal teething pattern in babies will help you determine if your baby has delayed teething. Ideally, the first set of your baby’s teeth (lower front teeth) should erupt at around six months of age. The upper front teeth erupt next, followed by other teeth that emerge within their specific age range.
| Lower Teeth | Upper Teeth |
| Central incisor: 6-10 months | Central incisor: 8-12 months |
| Lateral incisor: 10-16 months | Lateral incisor: 9-13 months |
| First molar: 14-18 months | First molar: 13-19 months |
| Canine: 17-13 months | Canine: 16-22 months |
| Second molar: 23-31 months | Second molar: 25-33 months |
What Is Delayed Teething?
If your baby’s teeth don’t erupt within the usual age range, or if there is a significant deviation from the expected time of tooth eruption, then they are considered to be experiencing delayed teething. Babies with this condition usually don’t display the typical signs of teething, which include swollen gums, excessive drooling, or rubbing of the ear.
Should You Be Worried About Your Baby’s Teeth Coming In Late?
The Australian Dental Association states that while some babies may begin teething as early as the age of four months, others may start teething at around ten months. The Academy also states that there is usually no need to be concerned if your baby experiences delayed teething. This is because each baby achieves developmental milestones at a different age, and it is the same with teething. You just have to ensure that your baby’s teeth eruption occurs within the specified age range as mentioned in the chart.
However, if your baby’s first set of teeth (lower central incisors) do not emerge even after the age of 12 months, then you should consult your paediatric dentist to determine the exact cause and treatment method (if required).
What Are The Possible Causes Of Late Teething In Babies
Oftentimes, delayed teething may occur due to no specific reason. But in some cases, late teething may happen due to underlying conditions which require diagnosis and proper treatment. Some of the causes of delayed teething in babies include:
Poor Nutrition
Studies have shown that nutritional insufficiency or poor nutritional status may affect teeth eruption in babies. A low nutritional status negatively affects your baby’s teeth in their pre-eruptive stage. Additionally, any deficiencies in vitamins A, C, D, and E, and calcium can significantly affect your baby’s teething.
Hereditary Factors
Hereditary factors also play a big role in your baby’s late teething. If you or your partner had similar delayed teething issues at the same age, it could likely be that your baby will experience similar issues.
Fibrosis
This condition is characterised by thick gums that prevent or impede the eruption of teeth and can delay teeth eruption in your baby. A visit to the paediatric dentist can help confirm this condition and determine possible treatment methods.
Thyroid Disorders
If your baby has thyroid disorders, particularly hypothyroidism, they may have delayed teeth eruption. They may also experience dental problems in their already existing teeth, such as open bites, cross bites, and enamel hypoplasia.
Systematic Medications And Diseases
Long-term medication may also interfere with your baby’s tooth eruption. If this is the case, then you should consult your paediatric dentist to determine alternative medicines or possible treatment methods. In addition to this, many systematic disorders, such as iron deficiency anaemia can affect teeth eruption in your baby.
Hormonal Issues
Lack of secretion of the growth hormone (a hormone released by the pituitary gland), may affect the development of facial structures in babies, including the eruption of teeth. This condition is more specifically known as hypopituitarism which causes low secretion of growth hormones, affecting tooth eruption in babies, among other problems.
Injuries
Any trauma to the jaw can affect the tooth buds of your baby and delay teething. In some cases, injuries may also lead to fibrosis, leading to late teething. This condition also requires special medical intervention and treatment.
Absent Or Missing Teeth
In rare cases, a baby may have a missing tooth, which may be mistaken for delayed teething. This can be properly diagnosed by your dentist, so don’t panic beforehand, rather consult the doctor first to get a grasp of the situation.
Impacted Teeth
If your baby’s milk teeth become impacted, they may stay lodged within their gums or jaws, and cause delayed teething. A baby with impacted teeth is also likely to experience other symptoms, such as gum swelling, pain, or redness.
Genetic Disorders
Certain genetic disorders might impact the musculoskeletal growth of your baby, thus affecting their teeth eruption. Apart from this genetic conditions, such as dentinogenesis imperfect a and amelogenesis imperfect a may affect your baby’s teeth and gums, increasing the risk of late teething. Premature babies or babies with a low birth weight may also be at risk of delayed teething.
Complications Of Late Teething In Babies
In most cases, a simple delay in teething will likely not cause any problem. But if your baby’s teeth come in later than the average timeline, then they may experience the following complications.
- Jaw bone deformity and asymmetrical face
- Delay in chewing food
- Speech difficulties
- Crowded permanent teeth
- Difficulty in making facial expressions, such as frowning or smiling
Do not hit the panic button even if your baby’s teeth are coming in late. Instead, pay attention to their nutritional requirements, and keep track of their overall growth rate to ensure their healthy development. But if you’re baby’s teeth fail to erupt even after their first birthday, pay a visit to a paediatric dentist to determine the cause and treatment method.
Also read:
Important baby milestones: Check out this post to know all the important baby milestones to help keep track of your baby’s healthy growth and development.
Featured image: Pexels.com
