What You Should Know About Your Child’s Baby Teeth

The loss of baby teeth is exciting for young kids! It signifies the transition into becoming a Big Kid. Children are proud to show off the new gaps in their smile and can’t wait for a visit from the Tooth Fairy. Many parents have questions about what to expect when their children begin to lose teeth and even though each child is different and it’s normal for this timeline to vary, we’ve put together a few guidelines for parents on what you should know about your child’s baby teeth, that is the importance of baby teeth.

Baby Teeth Timeline 

Children have 20 baby teeth (also called primary teeth), most of which will have erupted before the age of three in teething babies. Even though baby teeth will fall out eventually, it’s still crucial to teach your child good dental hygiene habits. Caring for baby teeth and keeping cavities and tooth decay at bay will set the stage for a lifetime of healthy teeth. 

Teeth will usually fall out in the same order they came in, beginning around the age of six. This is also around the same time the permanent molars will begin to appear in the back of the mouth. Usually, around the age of eight, the four top and bottom primary teeth will have been lost, and their permanent replacements will begin to appear.

After these changes, your child’s teeth will stay the same for a few years and by the time he or she is thirteen, the rest of the primary teeth will be gone and permanent teeth will start to erupt. The last teeth to arrive are the wisdom teeth (sometimes called third molars), around the age of 18-21.

What To Expect When A Tooth Becomes Loose

When your child’s tooth becomes loose, it’s normal for him or her to wiggle it and mess with it. This is fine, but please instruct your child to avoid pulling or yanking on the tooth until it’s ready to come out. If a tooth is lost before it’s ready, it can cause infection, damage to the tooth roots, and pain. When teeth are lost naturally, it will be painless.

It’s important to remember that the above timeline will vary from child to child. Don’t worry if this guide is off by a little bit. However, if you feel that something isn’t happening normally, please contact Discovery Kids Pediatric Dentistry. Our pediatric dental office is located in Frisco, TX.

If you  would like to learn more about pediatric dental care not covered in our dental topics from Discovery Kids Pediatric Dentistry, please complete an online appointment request or phone 469-365-5437.