baby teeth

What age will my child lose his/her 1st tooth?

Most parents have no clue when their little one will begin to lose their teeth. So here is the basic breakdown.

  • Typically, a child will lose their bottom front two center teeth first around 6-7 years old.
  • Next to come out usually are the top two front central teeth.
  • Then back down to the laterals (or front side teeth). This happens at about 7-8 years of age.
  • Soon after that, the top laterals are lost.
  • Once the front 8 teeth are gone there is usually a break for a couple of years before a child starts losing teeth again.

Now, every child is different and girls tend to lose their teeth sooner than boys. I’ve seen some 4 year old girls with loose teeth and some 8 year old boys who have yet to lose one.

  • Starting again around 10, kids will lose their back baby molars and the canines (eye teeth).
  • Usually, they finish losing all the teeth at about 12-13 years old.

It’s important to remember that every tooth serves a purpose and it’s not okay to leave a cavity in a child’s mouth because “it’s a baby tooth and they will just lose it anyway.” Sometimes your Dentist may recommend watching a decayed tooth if it is close to falling out but if you suspect your child has a cavity it needs to be checked.

The enamel of a baby tooth is thinner than a permanent tooth and decay can spread to the nerve very quickly resulting in pain for your child.

Each tooth holds the space for it’s permanent replacement so if one is lost early a space maintainer should be placed by a dentist to prevent the teeth from shifting. If the teeth shift enough, the permanent tooth can be blocked out.

That’s a guide to go by.

Remember, each child is different but a good clue to follow: If your child was early getting teeth as a baby they will probably lose them early too.

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