Question
My child’s milk teeth are growing slowly, and at the age of 2, they have only developed 18 teeth, while other children have already filled their mouths with teeth. The doctor said there is no need to worry during the health check-up, but I am still curious as to why my child’s milk teeth are erupting slower.
Answer
The delayed eruption of a child’s milk teeth may be related to their nutritional status and overall health. Conditions such as malnutrition, osteomalacia, or cretinism can all affect the eruption of milk teeth. Additionally, the mother’s nutritional status during pregnancy and breastfeeding plays a crucial role, as we know that milk teeth begin to grow and develop during pregnancy. If the mother is malnourished, it may affect the growth and development of the milk teeth; if the mother is undernourished during breastfeeding, it may also affect the infant’s calcium and phosphorus metabolism, leading to delayed eruption of milk teeth.