In many cases, the gap between the front baby teeth is harmless and it will disappear once the adult teeth emerge.
Your child’s smile might simply be the best thing in the world for you! However, many parents are often worried about the development of their baby or all the possible issues they may have. Being cautious is not a bad thing unless you start worrying excessively and without having a rational basis for it.
When it comes to your child’s baby teeth, you probably have a lot of questions since the first one emerged. Now you see a gap between your baby’s front teeth, possibly not the only one, and you are wondering if it is normal or not.
Let’s discuss when you may want to have your baby’s gap checked out and when to keep enjoying your little one’s contagious smile.
The Gap is Caused by the Frenulum
The labial frenulum is the small, stringy piece of tissue that connects the upper lip to the gums or the upper maxillary. We all have it. Some individuals have a frenulum that connects to the gum quite low, getting all the way between the two front teeth. Check if that’s the case with your baby, and if you do notice a frenulum that is planted low in the gum, you may have found the cause.
While a front teeth gap only has a cosmetic impact in most cases, a tight frenulum can cause a number of other issues. If you notice other symptoms besides the gap, your child may need a frenectomy. These symptoms include improper latching and painful breastfeeding, difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, issues when weaning. Check with your pediatrician or with a pediatric dentist to get a proper diagnosis.
The Gap is Caused by Small Teeth or Natural Development
In most cases, the gap between the front baby teeth is harmless and it will disappear once the adult teeth emerge. Some babies have small teeth or they simply get them more spaced in the beginning. This is a good thing because it gives them enough room to grow nicely aligned and prepare the ground for beautiful adult teeth.
The Gap Might Be a Sign of Unusual Proportions or Development
If you feel that the gap between your baby’s front teeth is too big and something to worry about, schedule an appointment with your St. Louis pediatric dentist to see if there is an underlying cause for it. In very rare cases, missing teeth, extra teeth or an oversized jaw can cause such a symptom.
Before you stress about it, remember that gaps are often something to be expected and occur in about 40% of children. The best way to eliminate possible issues is to schedule a check-up with your child’s dentist.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please give us a call today at (314) 862-7844.
