"Toothless" and "cute" don't usually go together when referring to adults, but it definitely makes sense when talking about babies. However, cute toothless babies don't stay that way forever - they can get even cuter when their adorable baby teeth show up - and they're not really toothless.

Crowns of baby teeth, also known as primary teeth, are almost completely formed at birth but remain buried under their gums until they start showing up when a baby is about six months to a year old.

Sadly for babies (and their parents or caretakers), this process, commonly referred to as "teething," can make an infant's gums sore, causing them to be uncomfortable and irritable.

Experts suggest massaging your baby's gums with a clean finger or giving a chilled teething ring, a cool spoon or a cold, wet washcloth to help relieve them of teething discomfort.

Even if baby teeth eventually fall out, parents are advised to start their baby with proper dental habits as soon as the first baby tooth comes in. These little munchers help baby with proper chewing and speech and holds space in the gums for permanent teeth.

Studies show that 30 percent of orthodontic cases start from prematurely lost baby teeth. When a baby tooth falls out too soon, adjacent teeth shift into empty areas. This messes up the spaces in the jaw meant for permanent teeth, causing them to come out crowded or crooked. That's why some pediatric dentists recommend a space maintainer to prevent this from happening.

Most children start losing their baby teeth by age six, starting with the front teeth and going all the way to the molars at the back by age 12 or 14. Some kids can actually pull out their own loose baby teeth, wiggling them out or using other techniques (such as the "string-on-the-door pull" and other resourceful ways of pulling them out) that may not be dentist-recommended.

If your child is getting impatient with a loose baby tooth, use a piece of tissue or gauze to grasp the tooth firmly and remove it with a quick twist, or you can always go to the dentist to have the stubborn primary tooth extracted.

It's never too early to start taking good care of your baby's oral health, even if there's only one tooth visible. Below are some suggestions to properly care for baby teeth:

- Prevent early childhood caries (ECC), also known as "baby bottle tooth decay," by making sure baby doesn't sleep with a bottle containing any sugary liquids, even breast milk. Never give a pacifier dipped into anything sweet, either. These habits leave bacteria in their mouths long enough to produce acids that attack their precious little teeth.

- Start brushing baby's teeth as soon as you see the first baby tooth, and clean and massage the gums with a clean gauze pad. When all teeth have erupted, floss at least once a day to help prevent gum disease when they get older.

- Most babies grow out of thumb-sucking after age two and must be weaned out of it by age four. Otherwise, it can cause overcrowded or crooked permanent teeth.

- Consider a combination of fluoride treatment and dental sealants, thin plastic coatings applied on children's molars to stop dental plaque from accumulating. Together, these can prevent dental cavities by 90 percent. However, make sure to consult your dentist before giving your child any fluoride treatment and have your child use only un-fluoridated toothpaste until two years of age.

Most importantly, include regular dental visits in your well-baby checkups after the first baby tooth is out. Keeping dental checkups regularly included with your daily dental care routine can give your baby a good head start in maintaining excellent oral health all throughout your child's lifetime.

If you need to find a pediatric dentist for your children, call us today.