Have you noticed that your child’s adult teeth look chipped or bumpy as they erupt? An Irish dentist has explained exactly why this happens and whether it’s a good or a bad thing.
Children losing their baby teeth and growing their big teeth is a bittersweet moment for parents – it’s a sign that they are growing up and another stage of childhood is ending.
But it can also be worrisome – these are the teeth that our kids will have for the rest of their lives, which is a long time, so we must help them take care of them.
And if they get a cavity, their teeth look a little yellow, or they get chipped or damaged in any way, it can be very stressful for parents.
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Why do kids’ teeth look chipped as they grow?
An Irish paediatric dentist has shared why a child’s adult teeth may look bumpy or chipped as they grow in, and good news, it’s completely normal.
Children’s dentist Dr Abigail Moore shared the information on Instagram and it’s such a reassurance for worried parents.
She said that her seven-year-old patient was worried that she had chipped her tooth as it was growing ‘with bumps on it’. But these weren’t chips, they were mamelons.
‘Those little ridges on brand new teeth? No, they’re not chipped or broke, they are mamelons!’ Dr Moore said. ‘These natural bumps help teeth emerge and are a sign of healthy development.’
Explaining exactly what causes mamelons, the dentist said: ‘They are scalloped edges you get on brand new front teeth top and bottom and they help the teeth get through the gum, they help break through the gum.’
‘But they’re actually really cute and they’re a sign of normal growth.’
As children grow, the mamelons go away from normal daily activities such as talking, chewing and biting.
