Keeping kids smiling through the school years comes down to a few steady habits and a little help from the dentist at the right moments. Between the first wiggly tooth and the last year of high school, children swap baby teeth for permanent ones, take over their own brushing, eat more meals and snacks away from home, and start making choices about sports, orthodontics and more. Each stage brings its own risks, and each has simple ways to protect a growing smile.

This guide from the Timonium office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS walks parents through the grade school and teen years: what changes in the mouth, what to watch for at home, and the preventive care that helps keep permanent teeth healthy for life.

Why the school years matter so much for teeth

For several years, children have a mix of baby teeth and permanent teeth. New permanent teeth are coming in, some baby teeth are loose, and the mouth can be harder to keep clean because of uneven spaces and partly erupted teeth. At the same time, kids are gaining independence, which often means brushing gets quicker and snacks get more frequent.

The permanent teeth arriving now are the ones your child will keep. Protecting them early, while habits are still forming, is one of the most useful things a parent can do.

Losing baby teeth and welcoming permanent ones

Wiggly teeth

Loose baby teeth usually come out on their own. Encourage your child to wiggle gently with clean hands or their tongue, and avoid yanking a tooth that isn’t ready. A little bleeding when a tooth comes out is common, and pressing a clean gauze pad or cloth on the spot helps.

New back molars that no one notices

The first permanent molars often come in behind the baby teeth without any baby tooth falling out first, so parents may not realize they are permanent. These molars have deep grooves on their chewing surfaces where food and bacteria can collect, which makes them a common spot for cavities. They are a good reason to keep up with checkups and to ask about sealants.

When to call the office

  • A permanent tooth is coming in behind a baby tooth that isn’t loose
  • A tooth or the gum around it is painful or swollen
  • A tooth has a dark, white chalky or brown spot
  • A tooth is chipped, cracked or knocked out

If a permanent tooth is knocked out, put it in milk and call the office right away. Read kids’ dental emergencies: a parent’s guide.

Brushing and flossing as kids take over

Handing over the toothbrush

School-age children want to brush on their own, and they should practice. Most still need a parent to check their work, especially along the gumline and on the back molars. A good approach is to let your child brush first, then take a quick look and touch up any spots that were missed.

Cleaning between teeth

Once teeth touch each other, a toothbrush can’t reach the spaces in between. Floss picks can be easier for small hands, and making flossing part of the bedtime routine helps it stick. Read 5 ways to floss daily and, for younger children who resist, when brushing is a battle.

Lunchboxes, sports drinks and after-school snacks

How often teeth are exposed to sugar matters as much as how much sugar a child eats. Sipping juice or sports drinks through practice, grazing on crackers after school and sticky fruit snacks in the lunchbox all keep teeth under attack for longer. Water between meals, cheese, vegetables and fruit are friendlier choices, and sweets are easier on teeth when they are eaten with a meal. Read how to limit sugar for kids without the battle.

Protection from the dentist during the school years

Super sealants

Super sealants completely seal the chewing surfaces and all the pits and fissures of children’s and adults’ teeth, so bacteria and simple sugars can’t be harbored there. The process is simple and painless, and the practice offers a lifetime warranty.

Strengthening enamel without fluoride

The practice avoids fluoride and offers calcium rebuilding treatments instead, to help strengthen enamel for patients of all ages. Xylitol mints and lollipops also help reduce decay risk.

Finding problems early

Digital X-rays appear on screen right away and use less radiation than standard dental X-rays, and DIAGNOdent laser detection can find decay at its earliest stages, sometimes before it shows on an X-ray. A professional cleaning every six months is recommended.

Gentle repairs

If a cavity is found, fillings are tooth-colored and mercury-free, and a comfortable filling process provided by micro-air technology is available for people of all ages. Read how to prevent cavities in children.

Thinking about straightening

Crowding, gaps and bite problems often become easier to see as permanent teeth come in. The best time to consider orthodontics is once the permanent teeth have grown in and irregularities are noticed. Straight, uniform teeth are easier to clean, and a correct bite spreads chewing pressure evenly.

Dr. Haywood is an Elite Invisalign Provider. Invisalign Teen uses clear, removable aligners designed for teenagers, so there are no food restrictions and teens can brush and floss normally. Metal braces are also offered and suit more complex orthodontic work. Invisalign can be paid in monthly payments in the office after a down payment. See Invisalign Teen and orthodontics.

The teen years

Helping nervous kids feel at ease

If your child is anxious about the dentist, let the team know ahead of time. The office is spa-like and calm, and laughing gas is a safe and effective form of sedation dentistry for patients of all ages. It is offered as a complimentary service. A parent or legal guardian must be present during the consultation of a patient under the age of 18. Read sedation dentistry for kids and parents.

Paying for your family’s dental care

The practice is out of network with all dental insurance providers. You pay at the time of your visit, and the office files the claim on your behalf so your plan can reimburse you for whatever it covers. Health savings and flex plans are welcome, and financing is available through CareCredit, with no-interest options for up to 12 months, and Cherry, with plans from 3 to 24 months. See financing options.

Frequently asked questions

Is it normal for a permanent tooth to come in behind a baby tooth?

It happens fairly often, especially with the lower front teeth. Sometimes the baby tooth loosens and falls out on its own. If the baby tooth isn’t loose, call the office so Dr. Haywood can take a look.

Are sealants only for young children?

No. Super sealants protect the chewing surfaces of both children’s and adults’ teeth, and the practice offers a lifetime warranty. New permanent molars are a common place to consider them.

Does the practice give fluoride treatments to children?

The practice avoids fluoride. Calcium rebuilding treatments are offered instead to help strengthen enamel for patients of all ages, and xylitol mints and lollipops help reduce decay risk.

Does a parent need to be at a teen’s appointment?

A parent or legal guardian must be present during the consultation of a patient under the age of 18.

Keep your child smiling with a visit in Timonium

Whether your child has a new permanent molar, a question about straightening or a checkup that is due, the team is happy to help. Request an appointment or call (410) 453-9399. The office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS is at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093, serving families from Timonium, Lutherville, Cockeysville, Towson and Hunt Valley. See general dentistry in Timonium.

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New permanent molars coming in? Book your child's checkup in Timonium and ask about super sealants.

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