When Will A Child Lose Baby Teeth?
Losing a baby tooth is a big milestone for any child and it is a pretty important moment for parents, too. As that first baby tooth begins to wiggle in its socket, parents may have many questions. Is their child losing teeth at the right time? How quickly do baby teeth fall out? When will the next one become loose? As a leading pediatric dentist office, we answer many questions about baby teeth loss. Here are a few facts that parents should know about this important process.
The Lifecycle of Children’s Teeth
Children usually achieve their full complement of 20 teeth around age three. As a general rule, the teeth that emerged first will be the first to fall out. Your child will probably notice that their lower incisors – their front teeth – start to wiggle first; the upper incisors are usually next.
It can be hard to predict exactly what age a child will be when they lose their baby teeth. Some children begin to lose teeth as early as four and can retain them as late as seven. Most children are five or six years old when the first baby teeth become loose. Parents can generally expect that children who got their teeth early will lose teeth early.
Losing baby teeth is a natural part of growing up but sometimes these teeth are lost ahead of schedule because of an injury or illness. If this happens, your family dentist may recommend a spacer be used. This is a custom-made placeholder that helps ensure optimal spacing inside the child’s mouth. Maintaining space can reduce or eliminate the need for braces later on.
Should I Be Concerned?
Parents are encouraged to speak with a pediatric dentist if either of two scenarios occur, specifically:
Neither scenario is necessarily a cause for concern, but an exam will reveal any variations in a child’s growing mouth that could require some extra attention. The information you get from your dentist will help you plan your child’s future oral care.