The expression "milk teeth"?

I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, USA and never heard primary dentition referred to as "milk teeth". Is this a regional expression, or perhaps a European term? Does one even need teeth to drink milk?

The expression "milk teeth"?
Milk teeth are called so because they resemble the color of milk, and are whiter than the permanent teeth that replace them. They also refract light similarly like milk does.





That is really the simplest explanation to it. At least that is what they taught me in dental school :)
Reply:Milk teeth are teeth that babies can be born with, also known as pearls. If a baby is born with one (or more) the expression is "milk teeth". It can also reference pearly white teeth on a person.





Hope this helps!
Reply:It is indeed a term often used outside of the US - I know it from growing up in England. Teeth are not necessary for drinking milk - I just think they got the name because babies have them during the time they are drinking milk but later they fall out to be replaced by permanent teeth.
Reply:Deciduous teeth, otherwise known as milk teeth, baby teeth, or primary teeth, are the first set of teeth in the growth development of humans and many other animals. I hope this helps....
Reply:Normal Development of the Mouth and Teeth


Humans are diphyodont, meaning that they develop two sets of teeth. The first set of 20 deciduous teeth are also called the milk, primary, temporary, falling-off, or baby teeth. They begin to develop before birth and begin to fall out when a child is around 6 years old. They're replaced by a set of 32 permanent teeth, which are also called secondary or adult teeth.


Teething


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Teething is the process during which an infant's teeth start to sequentially grow in. Teething can start as early as three months or as late, in some cases, as twelve months. Occasionally a baby may even present with one or more teeth at birth. The typical time frame for new teeth to appear is some where between six and nine months. It can take up to several years for all 20 deciduous (aka "baby" or "milk") teeth to emerge. The process of teething is sometimes referred to as "cutting teeth".





The infant teeth tend to emerge in pairs - first one upper incisor emerges then the other upper incisor emerges before the next set begin to emerge. The general pattern of emergence is:





Lower central incisors (2)


Upper central incisors (2)


Upper lateral incisors (2),


Lower lateral incisors (2)


First molars (4)


Canines (4)


Second molars (4)


Milk teeth tend to emerge sooner in females than in males. The exact patterns and initial starting times of teething appear to be hereditary. When and how teeth appear in an infant has no bearing on the healthiness or developmental ability of the child.