You’ve probably noticed some bumpy edges on your child’s new front teeth. Those little ridges can catch you off guard, especially if this is your first time seeing permanent teeth come in.
These ridges show up on most kids’ newly erupted permanent teeth, and they’re actually a normal part of tooth development.
What are These Ridges on My Child’s Teeth?
The ridges you see are called mamelons. That’s the technical term for the bumpy edges that appear on the biting surface of newly erupted permanent front teeth (incisors).
They’re small, rounded bumps that sit along the edge of the tooth, and there are usually three of them on each tooth.
They’re most noticeable on the top and bottom front teeth (central and lateral incisors), and you’ll typically see them as soon as those permanent teeth come in, usually around age six.
Mamelons form because of how permanent teeth develop inside the jawbone. As the adult tooth is growing, it forms in several lobes or sections that eventually fuse together. These lobes create the ridges you see once the tooth breaks through the gum.
Do the Mamelons Go Away on Their Own? If So, When?
In most kids, mamelons wear down naturally within a few months to a couple of years after the permanent teeth come in. Once your child starts using those new front teeth to bite and chew regularly, the ridges gradually smooth out on their own.
Each time your child bites into an apple, tears off a piece of pizza, or munches on carrots, those front teeth work against each other and against food. This constant contact and friction naturally wears down the mamelons until the biting edge becomes smooth and even.
However, the timeline can vary depending on your child’s bite alignment. If your child has an overbite or their teeth don’t meet properly, the mamelons might stick around longer because there’s less direct contact between the upper and lower teeth during chewing.
Kids with misaligned bites might have mamelons that persist for several years or don’t wear down evenly. This doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a problem, but it’s something to keep an eye on during regular dental visits.
Read more: Is Your Child’s Bite Off? Here’s What You Should Know About Overbites and Underbites
Should I be Concerned About My Kid’s Ridges?
In most cases, mamelons are completely normal and nothing to worry about. If your child isn’t experiencing any pain or sensitivity and the teeth look healthy, there’s no reason for concern.
We usually recommend leaving mamelons alone and letting them wear down naturally. There’s no medical need to remove them, and they don’t affect your child’s oral health.
We generally don’t do anything to speed up the process unless there’s a specific reason, such as significant discomfort, which is very rare, or a cosmetic concern that’s really bothering an older child or teen.
That being said, there are times when the ridges might signal something worth investigating. If the ridges are unusually pronounced or persist well into the teenage years without any signs of wearing down, it could point to a bite alignment issue that needs attention.
Another thing to watch for is abnormal enamel. Sometimes ridges can be confused with enamel defects or hypoplasia, which is when the enamel doesn’t form properly and creates irregular surfaces on the tooth.
Read more: Enamel Hypoplasia in Kids: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatments
This looks different from mamelons because the texture is rougher, more pitted, or discolored. If the tooth surface looks chalky, has white or brown spots, or seems unusually fragile, it’s worth having your child’s dentist take a look.
Mamelons are just a normal part of tooth development that most kids experience. Still, regular dental checkups are important because they allow us to monitor how your child’s teeth are developing and wearing, and to catch any bite or enamel issues early on.
If you have any questions about your child’s teeth, we’d be happy to see you. Schedule an appointment with our pediatric dental team in Lafayette.
We’re one of the leading pediatric dentists in the area, proudly serving families in Lafayette, Breaux Bridge, Carencro, Crowley, Youngsville, Broussard, and the entire greater Acadiana area. We’ll help keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy and give you peace of mind as they grow.