How Many Baby Teeth Will Fall Out?
Baby teeth fall out during childhood, but (fortunately) not all at the same time. Follow the guide to find out at what age the baby teeth fall out, how many baby teeth are affected, and in what order, so you can plan just a little bit for your child’s development.
If all goes well, all 20 baby teeth will fall out during childhood. In rare cases, one or a few deciduous teeth may persist and stay in place longer than expected. This happens when the final tooth that is to replace the persistent baby tooth has not developed and therefore will not be able to expel the root of the baby tooth and cause it to fall out. This is called dental agenesis1. This is often diagnosed by the dentist around the time the deciduous teeth were lost.
At what age do you lose baby teeth?
The position of the teeth often influences the order and at what age the baby teeth fall out. Fortunately, they do not all fall at the same time! The first baby teeth that fall out are the ones that sprouted first. Here is the age at which deciduous teeth are generally lost and permanent teeth appear:
- 6-7 years old. The first losses of milk teeth usually concern the lower central incisors.
- 7-9 years old. The upper central incisors and the lateral incisors are then replaced.
- 9-12 years old. The lower then upper canines fall, then comes the turn of the lower and upper first molars.
- 11-13 years old. The lower and upper second molars fall out.
These guidelines are an average of the age at which baby teeth fall out and do not mean that your child will lose their teeth on an exact schedule. Rest assured if they don’t lose them when expected: each child has their own developmental rate and they will fall off soon enough. Patience!
How to react if the baby teeth do not fall out?
If the deciduous teeth resist and do not give way to the new teeth, or the final tooth begins to come out without the deciduous tooth having fallen out, it is necessary to consult a pediatric dentist who will perform an X-ray of control and the examination. Sometimes, extraction of the baby tooth if necessary. This is because the implantation of milk teeth can prevent the development and proper positioning of new teeth and the child can suffer from it.
Baby teeth of the child: an important step
The loss of baby teeth is an important stage for the child: it coincides with the development of his autonomy and his entry into the world of "grown-ups". Thus, a little ritual can be set up to celebrate this: when the child loses his baby tooth, he can place it under his pillow so that "the tooth fairy" passes during the night and places a small gift instead.
What are permanent teeth?
Normally, it is the lower central incisors that arrive first on the arch around 5-6 years old and then the lower lateral incisors, just after that arrive successively the central and upper lateral incisors around 6-8 years old. The first molars also arrive during this time. Then come the first and second premolars between 8-12 years, then the second molars between 12-14 years. The last step in the constitution of the final dentition of your child: the "wisdom teeth" or the third molars.