Kids love animals. Kids even love to play animals. In real life, kids can develop what is sometimes called shark teeth. Children’s Dental Center sees this a lot and has a few helpful tips on identifying and treating shark teeth.
What are shark teeth?
Shark teeth simply refers to a child having two rows of teeth in their mouth – the original primary or baby teeth and the incoming permanent teeth.
Children usually start loosing teeth around ages 5 to 7. Normally, the earlier the baby teeth come in, the earlier they will fall out. Babies who teethe later will tend to lose their baby teeth later. Most often, the teeth will fall out in the order they came in starting with the center tooth.
When the permanent teeth begin popping up, they typically dissolve the roots of the baby teeth. The baby teeth become loose, shift or fall out. As this is happening to your child, check the primary teeth to see if they are loose. You can encourage your child to gently wiggle the tooth and see if it falls out.
Over time, these teeth typically fall out and do not create big problems for kids. Losing a tooth is generally painless. But it is common for kids to have some gum soreness. They may also complain about difficulty eating.
What if the teeth aren’t budging?
Shark teeth are not an emergency, but they do need be cared for. Your dentist can evaluate if there is a problem and recommend what to do next.
Sometimes one or more of the original baby teeth just won’t budge. When two rows of shark teeth are competing for space, it can force a child’s permanent teeth out of position, leading to future problems. Removing the stubborn tooth or teeth makes space for permanent teeth to come into position. This helps give your child the best chance for a healthy smile and mouth as they grow up.
If you think your child may have shark teeth, schedule an appointment your dentist can recommend the next steps.