When do Kids Start Losing Teeth?

when do kids start losing teeth

When do primary teeth fall out? This is a question that interests both parents, and their children. For the parents, it means probable dental visits, blood and some crying if it is painful.

For children, it means the excitement of getting a new tooth, coupled with the anticipation of waiting for the tooth fairy.

The answer is that all the primary teeth have an age, during which they fall out. The period is different for each tooth and more importantly, for each child.

The age that your dentist tells you is an average, and it is not necessary that your child’s milk teeth will fall at that time. Do not panic if your child’s teeth fall off before or after that time.

When do baby teeth fall out?

There are teeth eruption and shedding charts which you can refer to for more knowledge about your child’s teeth.  By the first six months of life, the first primary tooth erupts, and by two to three years of age, your child should have all his twenty primary teeth.

Losing the first primary tooth will probably be when your child is about six years old, and the process will continue until the age of thirteen.

However, tooth shedding is a very person specific process and depends on many factors. The overall growth rate of your child, the genetic build up, and the rate of development of the corresponding permanent teeth- these are some factors that will decide when a primary tooth is ready for exfoliation.

Most primary teeth will become mobile in their socket when the time for shedding is near. If your child has an excessively decayed tooth, it can break off in parts with the root remaining inside. In this case, the pediatric dentist will extract the root.

If your child has shown delayed eruption for the teeth, it is likely that the age of exfoliation will also be later than predicted.

An excellent way to remember tooth shedding sequence is that the teeth usually fall off in the same sequence that they erupt. This means that your child’s front teeth will be the first ones to go.

Here is a simple table to tell you about the different ages that each baby tooth falls out.

Upper Arch

Tooth Shedding age
Central Incisor 6-7 years
Lateral Incisor 7-8 years
Canine 10-12 years
First Molar 9-11 years
Second Molar 10-12 years

 

Lower Arch

Tooth Shedding age
Central Incisor 6-7 years
Lateral Incisor 7-8 years
Canine 9-12 years
First Molar 9-11 years
Second Molar 10-12 years

Reasons for early or delayed exfoliation

Many internal and environmental factors govern tooth development and eruption. This means that there can be numerous reasons why your child’s tooth has not erupted on time.

Before you enter into a state of panic about early or delayed shedding, keep these factors in mind and seek knowledge from your dentist. The pedodontist is the best person to decide if anything is amiss regarding your child’s teeth.

Early exfoliation

A child’s primary tooth can fall off before the stipulated time if it has undergone any trauma. If your little one has had a fall, an accident or been the victim of a blow on the face, he or she could lose a tooth before the average age. (1)

Pulpal necrosis or pulpal therapy in a particular tooth will lead to early exfoliation and the early eruption of the corresponding successor. (2)

It could also be possible that your child shows all growth milestones early in their life. Bone development and height are some signs which can tell you about the early eruption.

Sometimes, the premature eruption is because of an underlying systemic or dental illness. Calcium-related growth disorders, neutropenia, scurvy, and aggressive periodontitis are some of the conditions that result in early exfoliation. (3)

Timely dental visits will tell you if your child is at risk of developing any of these.

Late Exfoliation

A child may have an ankylosed tooth, which is why it may not have shed despite crossing the exfoliation age. Ankylosis is a condition in which the tooth is fused to the underlying bone, because of which it does not fall off. See your dentist if you suspect ankylosis.

If the corresponding successor of a particular primary tooth is impacted or missing, there is delayed shedding. This happens because the eruptive forces of an adult tooth play a role in shedding of a primary tooth. Dental radiographs will tell the dentist about this condition.

Disorders like hypothyroidism, hypopituitarism or Down’s syndrome delay exfoliation.

The potential problems that early or delayed exfoliation can cause include malocclusion, crowding, gingival and periodontal diseases. (4)

Wrapping Up

A child has many anxious moments in anticipation of losing a tooth and getting a new one in its place. If you feel that the milk teeth are not falling out as per the tooth charts, you can address your concerns with the dentist, to be at ease.

Remember that teeth don’t have a fixed day and time to erupt, and each child will go through the shedding process at a different age.

Baani has done BDS. She enjoys reading in her free time. Her weak spots are quirky stationery and witty puns. She is currently interning as a dentist and plans to pursue a career in the research-oriented domain of public health.