As a parent, you may have seen your fair share of dental surprises. Maybe your child’s yellow teeth worried you, or a minor tooth infection caused your child pain. These problems and more can be fixed with the help of an experienced paediatric dentist. Imagine your child running into the room one day excited to show off their new tooth, but it is instead growing behind their existing tooth like shark teeth.
Shark teeth is a term that refers to new adult teeth emerging behind baby teeth. Even though it may be startling, it is usually nothing to be worried about. In many cases, your child’s baby teeth will still become loose naturally and be replaced by that new adult tooth.
However, if your child’s teeth are not coming loose, nothing seems to change after 2 months, or they are experiencing significant discomfort, we recommend you visit us for a checkup. We can help support the healthy development of your child’s smile.
Why Does My Child Have Shark Teeth?
When kids start losing their baby teeth, it is usually because their adult teeth are ready to push through. When that happens, the roots of baby teeth usually dissolve, and new adult teeth help push them out. But sometimes, things do not go as planned.
Shark teeth can appear when the roots of baby teeth do not dissolve correctly or when your child’s new adult teeth emerge at an angle.
When Do Baby Teeth Usually Fall Out?
Usually, baby teeth first start falling out around the age of 6. They typically begin falling out from the front of the mouth to the back of the mouth. This generally continues over several years until your child has lost all of their baby teeth. Plenty of Tooth Fairy visits will follow.
As baby teeth fall out, they should be replaced with new permanent teeth. However, every child is different, and sometimes their development may be affected by other factors, such as shark teeth.
Should You Be Worried About Shark Teeth?
On their own, shark teeth are not usually a cause for concern. However, they can warrant a trip to an experienced paediatric dentist. In many cases, shark teeth can still naturally loosen baby teeth, which can then be removed either by curious kids or your paediatric dentist. However, this is not always the case.
One potential issue with shark teeth is that the baby teeth might not be properly loosened and pushed out of your child’s mouth. If the baby teeth do not fall out in a timely manner, those extra teeth can crowd the mouth, which can lead to dental issues like:
- overcrowding
- misalignment
- difficulty brushing and flossing, which can lead to tooth decay
In some cases, shark teeth may also cause discomfort for your child. If your child does experience significant discomfort, that can be another good reason to visit us for a dental exam.
What Should You Do About Shark Teeth?
It is important to remember that shark teeth will not last forever. Eventually, the permanent teeth will often push the baby teeth out of the way, causing them to wiggle and come loose. Try encouraging your child to wiggle the baby tooth out if they notice it is loose as this can help speed the process along.
When Are Shark Teeth a Problem?
If after a few months your child’s baby teeth are not becoming loose, visit us for a checkup, and we may simply be able to help wiggle the tooth loose, or we may recommend a tooth extraction.
While shark teeth are not inherently harmful, they can potentially cause alignment issues if your child’s permanent teeth cannot grow in properly. They can also increase children’s risk of developing issues related to plaque buildup, as it can be more difficult to brush and floss adult teeth sitting behind baby teeth.
Of course, any serious discomfort associated with shark teeth should also be addressed by a dentist.
Do You Always Need to Visit a Dentist About Shark Teeth?
In many cases, visiting an experienced paediatric dentist can be helpful. We can help determine the right course of action to support your child’s future smile.
We can also monitor your child’s teeth over time and recommend appropriate strategies to encourage proper growth, such as:
- waiting for baby teeth to fall out naturally
- extracting baby teeth to free up space and avoid further problems
- considering orthodontic treatments to correct alignment issues
We can also provide guidance for managing this situation at home, such as encouraging your child to wiggle their loose baby teeth so they fall out on their own or adjusting your child’s oral health routine to address hard-to-reach teeth.
We Are Here for Your Family
When your child happily announces that they have shark teeth, feel free to visit our team at The Children’s Dental Centre. Although it might startle you to see 2 teeth where there should be 1, we are ready to help you remain calm and support your child’s smile.
Book an appointment with our team today—we are here for all your child’s dental needs.