Why are baby teeth important?
Eat & chew
Baby teeth allow children to chew properly and eat well from a very young age.
Speak & pronounce
They are essential for learning to pronounce sounds and words correctly.
Guide the permanent teeth
They "reserve the space" for the adult teeth. A tooth lost too early can cause malpositions.
Self-confidence
Healthy teeth also mean a nice smile and better self-esteem for the child.
Timeline: when do teeth come in?
months
🍼 Before the teeth — Gum care
- The 20 baby teeth are already present in the jaws at birth
- Clean the gums after each feed with a clean damp compress
- No visible teeth, but care begins right now!
months
🌱 The first teeth appear
- The 1st tooth comes through on average around 6 months (between 4 and 10 months)
- Start brushing as soon as the 1st tooth appears, using a soft toothbrush
- Sign of teething: swollen gums, red cheeks, restlessness, drooling
- 1st visit to the dentist within 6 months of the 1st tooth
years
🦷 Baby teeth coming in
- At 3 years: all 20 baby teeth have come through
- Brushing twice a day, always done by an adult
- Avoid the bottle at night: risk of "bottle caries"
- No sugars between meals, no fruit juices between meals
years
🧒 Complete set of baby teeth — learning
- The child learns to brush their teeth, but an adult must always supervise and finish the brushing
- Start of the M'T dents every year! visits at age 3 (free)
- Monitoring breathing: the child should breathe through the nose
- Watch out for thumb-sucking beyond 3-4 years
years
🦷 The permanent teeth arrive
- Around 6 years: appearance of the 1st permanent molar (the "6-year molar") — very important!
- The baby teeth fall out gradually and are replaced by the permanent teeth
- Around 6-7 years: an orthodontic check-up is recommended (HAS)
- Adult supervision of brushing until 8-9 years
- Sealing of the grooves of the permanent molars: protection against caries
years +
✅ Towards a complete permanent set of teeth
- At 12 years: all the permanent teeth are in place (except the wisdom teeth)
- 2nd orthodontic check-up if necessary
- Independent brushing but still to be supervised
- M'T dents every year! until age 24
How to brush your teeth properly?
When to brush?
- In the morning after breakfast
- In the evening after the last meal, before sleeping
- Always after eating if possible
- Do not eat or drink (except water) after the evening brushing
Which brush to choose?
- Soft bristles (no pain on the gums)
- A head suited to the size of the child's mouth
- Change the brush every 3 months or after an illness
- Electric toothbrush: just as effective if used correctly
How to brush?
- Horizontal back-and-forth movements from the gum towards the tooth
- All surfaces: outside, inside and chewing surface
- Do not rinse afterwards: let the toothpaste work!
- Simply spit out the excess toothpaste
Who should brush?
- 0–5 years: brushing done entirely by an adult
- 5–8 years: the child starts, the adult finishes
- 8–9 years: adult supervision still necessary
- After 9 years: independent brushing (but to be checked!)
Tips
- Use a plaque-disclosing agent: it colours the unbrushed areas
- Brush to music to last the 2 minutes
- Choose a brush with a favourite character
- Set up a routine with positive rewards
Dental floss & mouthwash
- Dental floss: to be used as soon as teeth touch each other (around 6-8 years)
- Cleaning between the teeth: areas not reached by the brush
- Fluoride mouthwash: from 6 years on the dentist's advice
- No mouthwash as a replacement for brushing
Fluoride toothpaste: which doses?
Why fluoride?
Fluoride strengthens the enamel of the teeth and makes it more resistant to acids. It can also "repair" weakened enamel. It is the best protection against caries.
Do not swallow!
Teach the child to spit out the toothpaste without rinsing. Too much fluoride swallowed can stain the teeth (fluorosis). The recommended amount is harmless.
Choosing the right toothpaste
Read the label: check the fluoride level in ppm (parts per million). "Baby" toothpastes with no fluoride or a low dose are not recommended by the UFSBD.
Diet and dental health
Good habits to adopt
- Drink water (especially between meals and at night)
- Eat sugary foods only with meals
- Wait 30 minutes after a meal before brushing the teeth
- End the meal with a cheese or an apple (protective effect)
- Stop the night-time bottle from 1 year of age
To avoid
- Fruit juices, sodas, syrups (even "no added sugar": acidic!)
- Lollipops, sweets, caramels, cakes between meals
- Bottle of milk, juice or syrup at night
- Snacking between meals
- Dipping the dummy in honey or sugar
Understanding dental caries
Bacteria
Bacteria live naturally in the mouth. They form dental plaque on the teeth if they are not brushed away.
Sugar
The bacteria "eat" the sugars and produce acids. These acids attack and dissolve the enamel of the teeth.
Time
If the teeth are not brushed regularly, the acids have time to attack the enamel and create a hole: the cavity.
Prevention
Brushing + fluoride + few sugars between meals = 3 weapons to avoid caries. Caries is preventable!
The M'T dents every year! scheme
M'T dents every year!
— Everything you need to know in a few points
🎯 For whom?
- All children aged 3 to 24
- Affiliated with the Health Insurance scheme
- Whatever their nationality
- Since 1 April 2025: every year!
💰 How much does it cost?
- Free examination (60% Health Insurance + 40% complementary insurance)
- Without complementary insurance: 100% covered
- Care within 6 months: also covered
- No additional fees possible
📋 What happens?
- Examination of the teeth and gums
- Oral and dental hygiene advice
- Scaling if needed
- Groove sealing (under 14s)
- Fluoride varnish if necessary
📱 How to register?
- Make an appointment with any dentist
- Specify "M'T dents every year!"
- Present: Vitale card + complementary insurance card
- Health record book recommended
- Invitation by email or post (3, 6, 12, 18 years)
Orthodontics: teeth growing crooked?
📅 When to consult?
- 1st check-up recommended by the HAS: 6–7 years
- When the first permanent teeth come in
- If your dentist suggests it
- 2nd check-up around 12 years
⚠️ Warning signs
- Thumb-sucking after 4 years
- Mouth breathing
- Atypical swallowing (swallowing by pushing the tongue forward)
- Very overlapping or very spaced teeth
- Misaligned jaws (front/back)
🛠️ Possible treatments
- Interception phase (6–10 years): removable appliance to guide growth
- Braces (fixed orthodontics): from 12–14 years
- Clear aligners: depending on the case
- Extraction of baby teeth if necessary
💰 Reimbursement
- Orthodontics not covered under M'T dents
- Normal reimbursement Health Insurance + complementary insurance
- A quote is mandatory before any treatment
- Check with your complementary insurance
Dental emergencies in children
Tooth broken or knocked out after an impact
- See the dentist as an emergency within 2 hours
- If a permanent tooth: keep it in milk or against the cheek
- Do not rub the tooth — hold it by the crown, not the root
- If a baby tooth has fallen out: do not put it back
Dental pain
- Consult within 24–48h
- Painkiller: paracetamol adjusted to weight while waiting
- Do not lance the abscess yourself
- In an emergency: call your dentist or 15 (SAMU)
Summary: key points for parents
The 3 essential actions
- Brush 2 times/day with fluoride toothpaste
- Limit sugars between meals
- Go to the dentist every year (M'T dents)
Key appointments
- 1st visit: 6 months after the 1st tooth
- Orthodontic check-up: 6–7 years
- M'T dents: every year from 3 to 24 years
- 2nd orthodontic check-up: 12 years
Good habits
- Supervise brushing until 8-9 years
- Water = the only drink between meals
- Report mouth breathing
- Health record book at every dental visit
📚 Sources and references
UFSBD (French Union for Oral and Dental Health) — Advice sheet for children 0–6 years, updated June 2024 • Health Insurance / Ameli.fr — M'T dents every year! scheme (since 1 April 2025) • Service-public.fr — M'T Dents every year — Free examinations and care for young people (2025) • Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) — Recommendations on oral and dental follow-up and paediatric orthodontics • National convention of dental surgeons 2023-2028 and amendment 1 (July 2024) • CNP CD / Health Insurance — Oral and dental prevention guide by key age (2024) • UFSBD — New oral and dental hygiene recommendations (2013, updated 2024) • Order of Dental Surgeons — Timeline of tooth eruption • Present document: to be updated every 6 months (next update: December 2025)