When Will My Child Start Losing Baby Teeth?

Is your little one getting antsy for a visit from the tooth fairy? While there’s no real normal when it comes to baby tooth loss and permanent emergence, the majority of kids do tend to experience these dental milestones around the same time. In this blog post, we’ll cover what you can most likely expect when it comes to tooth transitions.

Bye Bye Baby Teeth

Baby teeth—also known as primary teeth or milk teeth—usually begin to fall out around the age of six or seven. Generally, it’s the front teeth that fall out first. Over the next few years, your kid will continue to lose their teeth, starting at the front and moving toward the back of the mouth. By the age of 11 or 12, all of the teeth will have most likely fallen out. There are instances where a primary tooth may hang on longer than average. During your regular visits to our office, we can monitor the tooth or teeth and decide whether or not extraction or other treatment is needed.

Forever Teeth

The loss of primary teeth makes way for the emergence of permanent teeth. This second set of teeth actually begin to develop even before the baby is born, so by the time they’re ready to erupt, they’re fully formed. In the same order that the baby teeth fall out, the permanent teeth will appear. This means that they should start to grow in around age six or seven, and most of the teeth will have grown in by age 12 or 13. It may take until the age of 18 or so for all 32 teeth to make their way down through the gums. You can check out the American Dental Association tooth eruption chart for more information.

Children’s Dental Care in San Antonio, Texas

Concerns or questions coming up while your child’s teeth are changing? That’s what we’re here for. At Shaenfield Pediatric Dentistry, we’ll monitor your little one’s smile transitions closely at each of their biannual check-ups. Don’t have the next one scheduled? Give us a call or request a visit online.