When Should My Kids Start Losing Their Teeth?

You watched your children’s teeth start to come in, likely beginning around the 6-month mark. Much like how your child’s baby teeth erupted in stages, so will your kid start losing their teeth in gradual stages.

A common question our dentists here at Riverside Dental Care get asked is when parents should start expecting the loss of baby teeth. Generally, the loss of the first baby tooth starts around six years old, though it will be years before your child has a full set of adult teeth.

Children’s Tooth Loss Happens In Stages

Starting at the age of six, your child should start their baby teeth loss with the upper and lower central incisors, giving your child that adorable jack-o-lantern smile. From there, your kid’s tooth loss will continue until they are twelve years old.

To help you visualize this process, you can use the chart and illustration below.

Also, around the age of six, your child should have their six-year molars come in. These molars are not replacing any teeth and will be positioned behind the second molars.

Potential Baby Teeth Loss Issues

Sometimes, things don’t always go smoothly when it comes to baby tooth loss. Depending on the issues you run into, you may need our dental services to help correct your child’s tooth loss problems.

Premature baby tooth loss – With the lure of the Tooth Fairy’s reward for baby teeth, some kids are tempted to tug out their teeth earlier than they should. But, when baby teeth are pulled out too early, it can cause trauma to the jaw, potentially lead to infection, cause teeth to shift, and other issues. It is best if parents discourage the removal of baby teeth that are not loose.

Crowding – As your child’s permanent teeth come in, you may notice their mouths have become crowded. This crowding can manifest in crooked teeth, overlapping teeth, and discomfort. Orthodontic treatment will be needed to help address the crowding issue.

Delayed baby tooth loss – Sometimes, a baby tooth can be stubborn and cannot be easily pushed out by the erupting permanent tooth below. In these instances, the tooth can become painfully jammed and require the baby tooth to be extracted. Other delays can be caused if the permanent tooth simply doesn’t come in ever. In these cases, a dental implant or another form of tooth replacement can be used.

Extra teeth – A quirk of genetics can lead to more teeth erupting than needed to be replaced. While having extra teeth isn’t always a significant issue, if it leads to crowding, our dentists can extract the superfluous teeth.

Be Sure To Take Care Of Baby And Adult Teeth

Sometimes, it can seem since baby teeth will be replaced, that it isn’t that important to provide careful dental care. In reality, without proper oral hygiene in their early years, children can develop serious oral health issues, from receding gums to low jawbone density.

Along with engaging in daily oral hygiene habits like brushing and flossing, children should come in for biannual dental cleaning appointments. That way, our dentists can keep an eye on your child’s baby teeth and permanent adult teeth, ensuring that any potential issues are caught early.

If you have any concerns about your child’s teeth or would simply like to schedule a dental cleaning to help ensure their dental health is on track, please contact us today to set up your appointment. We look forward to helping your whole family have bright, beautiful smiles!