Answers from our dentists
Teeth, eruption & oral conditions
Few things prompt as many parent questions as the way a child's teeth arrive, shift, and eventually give way to adult ones — and the little surprises along the way, from a stubborn baby tooth to a spot of discoloration. This section gathers plain answers to the “is this normal?” questions about how a child's mouth develops.
You'll find guidance on the order and timing of baby teeth coming in and falling out, what's happening when an adult tooth appears before the baby one is gone, and how to read the white spots, stains, and color changes that show up on young teeth. We also cover the everyday oral conditions parents notice — sores, bumps, and changes in the gums or tongue — with straightforward notes on what tends to resolve on its own and what's worth a closer look.
Most of what happens as a child's mouth grows is completely normal, even when it looks odd for a while. But you never have to guess. If something about your child's teeth or mouth doesn't seem right, or you just want reassurance, call us at (201) 345-3637 and we'll take a look.
- Mucocele on a Child's Lip: What It Means A mucocele is a soft, usually painless bump that forms when saliva leaks from a minor salivary gland into nearby tissue. It often appears inside the lower lip after biting or trauma and may look clear, blue, or the same color as the surrounding tissue. Read the answer
- Bumps on the Back of a Child's Tongue A row of large round bumps near the back of a child's tongue is often normal circumvallate papillae—taste structures arranged in a V shape. Bumpy tissue farther back can also be lingual tonsil tissue. Normal structures are usually symmetrical and painless. Read the answer
- Geographic Tongue in Children: Is It Serious? Geographic tongue is a benign condition in which smooth red patches with pale or white borders appear on the tongue and change shape or location over time. The patches reflect temporary loss of tiny surface projections called papillae. Read the answer
- Fissured Tongue in Children: Care and Concerns A fissured tongue has one or more grooves running along its upper surface. It is usually a harmless variation and may become more noticeable with age. Food debris can collect in deeper grooves and cause irritation or odor, so gentle tongue cleaning may help. Read the answer
- Cold Sores vs. Canker Sores in Kids Cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus and usually form clusters of blisters on or around the lip; they are contagious. Canker sores are noncontagious ulcers found inside the mouth, often with a white-yellow center and red border. Read the answer
- Canker Sores in Children: Causes and Relief Canker sores are shallow, painful ulcers that form inside the lips, cheeks, tongue, soft palate, or gum tissue. They are not contagious and usually heal on their own within one to two weeks. Read the answer
- Bad Breath in Children Even After Brushing Bad breath that returns soon after brushing can come from plaque on the tongue or gums, trapped food, cavities, dry mouth, mouth breathing, tonsil stones, nasal drainage, reflux, or another medical issue. The odor itself is not a diagnosis. Read the answer
- What Causes Orange or Green Stains on Kids' Teeth? Orange or green discoloration on children's teeth is often an external stain held in plaque near the gumline, especially where brushing is difficult. Pigment-producing microorganisms, food or product color, and accumulated debris can contribute. Read the answer
- What Causes Black Stains on Children's Teeth? Black marks on a child's teeth are not always cavities. They can be external stain, a dark line associated with certain plaque bacteria, tartar, iron-containing products, metal exposure, or decay. Read the answer
- Why Does My Child Have White Spots on Teeth? White spots on a child's teeth can come from early mineral loss around plaque, a difference that formed while enamel was developing, mild fluorosis, or temporary drying of the surface. Read the answer
- Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization in Children Molar-incisor hypomineralization, or MIH, is a developmental enamel condition that most often affects one or more first permanent molars and sometimes permanent incisors. Read the answer
- Enamel Hypoplasia in Children: A Parent Guide Enamel hypoplasia means part of a tooth formed with less enamel than normal. The surface may have pits, grooves, thin areas, rough edges, or a section where enamel is missing. Read the answer
- Why Do Permanent Teeth Look Yellower Than Baby Teeth? Permanent teeth usually look warmer or more yellow than baby teeth because they contain more naturally yellow dentin beneath a more translucent enamel layer. The contrast is strongest while very white baby teeth remain beside them. Read the answer
- What Are Mamelons on New Permanent Teeth? Mamelons are three small rounded bumps that can appear along the biting edge of a newly erupted permanent front tooth. They are normal developmental features formed where sections of enamel joined while the tooth developed. Read the answer
- Extra Teeth in Children: What Are Supernumeraries? A supernumerary tooth is an extra tooth beyond the usual 20 baby teeth or 32 permanent teeth. It may erupt into the mouth or remain hidden in the jaw. Some cause no problem, while others delay eruption, close space, displace nearby teeth, or affect orthodontic planning. Read the answer
- What Is an Eruption Cyst on a Child's Gum? An eruption cyst is a fluid-filled swelling in the gum over a tooth that is about to emerge. It can look clear, bluish, purple, or dark red if a little blood is present. Most are harmless and open on their own as the tooth erupts, but a dentist should confirm the diagnosis. Read the answer
- What Does an Ankylosed Baby Tooth Mean? An ankylosed baby tooth has become fused to the surrounding bone instead of remaining suspended by its normal ligament. As nearby teeth and the jaw continue to develop, it may look lower or “sunken.” Some ankylosed teeth can be monitored; others need treatment to protect space, eruption, or the deve Read the answer
- Why Is My Child's Permanent Tooth Not Coming In? A permanent tooth may take longer to appear because of normal timing, lack of space, a retained or ankylosed baby tooth, an extra tooth, prior trauma, or an unusual eruption path. The most useful clue is often whether the matching tooth on the other side erupted months earlier. Read the answer
- Permanent Teeth Eruption Chart: Ages 6 to 21 Permanent teeth usually begin appearing around age six with the first molars or lower front teeth. Incisors, canines, premolars, and second molars then emerge across childhood and early adolescence. Read the answer
- Baby Teeth Eruption Chart: Order and Timing Most babies get their first tooth near the middle of the first year, but healthy timing varies widely. The lower front teeth often appear first, followed by the upper front teeth, side incisors, first molars, canines, and second molars. Most children have all 20 baby teeth by about age three. Read the answer