When and in what order milk teeth fall out

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

7 years old is not too late.

Why are baby teeth needed?

The first, the deciduous teeth, have a very important task in Baby Teeth: they help to form the place for the permanent teeth. This is not their only function, but the key one in the context of our article.

Humans, like other mammals, are born with a small head and tiny jaws, which simply cannot fit the normal adult-sized canines necessary for survival. The place will appear only with age, when the child becomes older and his jaws increase in size. But over time, the bones, including the jaw, harden. The gum tissue also becomes dense. If a tooth decides to emerge in a formed jaw, it simply cannot break through. Milk teeth solve this problem.

They are a kind of pioneers: they pierce the dental canals in a small jaw, push apart the delicate gum, force the jaw to expand. In general, the seat and path for the permanent teeth are prepared.

When the child becomes old enough to fit all the necessary permanent teeth in his mouth, the milk teeth that have completed their task begin to fall out. More precisely, the former simply push the latter out.

When baby teeth start to fall out

A jaw capable of accommodating "adult" teeth is formed closer to 6-7 years. At what age do children start losing their baby teeth? …

However, all 32 will not fit in it yet. Milk teeth fall out in turn, so that the permanent ones can comfortably, without crowding, cut through and provide themselves with the necessary space.

In what order do milk teeth fall out?

As a rule - in the same one in which they appear. Most often it happens like this Baby Teeth.

However, keep in mind that sometimes the order in which teeth fall out may change slightly, depending on which teeth erupted earlier.

1. Lower central incisors

They are the first to erupt in most children, when they are about six months old. And they are the first to leave the gum. This occurs around the age of 6-7 years.

2. Upper central incisors

Their loss lags behind the lower ones by literally a few months.

These are the most noticeable teeth in children's mouths: they look gigantic against the background of a small jaw.

3. Lateral incisors

As a rule, the top ones fall out first, then the bottom ones follow. Usually, all four teeth leave the jaw at the age of 7–8 years.

4. First molars

Both upper and lower ones fall out at the age of 9-11 years.

5. Canines and second molars

These teeth - both in the lower and upper jaw - are the last to fall out. As a rule, milk canines are lost first, then second molars. This process takes 2-3 years and takes place on average between 9 and 12 years.

By the age of 13, there are no milk teeth in the mouth of a teenager.

What to do if baby teeth do not fall out or fall out too early

Don't worry ahead of time. The above terms are just a guideline.

You should only talk to your dentist if the timing of the loss of baby teeth differs from the standard by more than a year. When Do Baby Teeth Fall Out and Adult Teeth Come In? …

This does not necessarily indicate any deviation. But the dentist will check the condition of the jaw, perhaps offer to take an X-ray and find out what is the reason for the delay or too early loss.

By the way, you will definitely not miss problems if you undergo preventive examinations on time. Children, like adults, should visit the dentist at least every six months. A Child's First Dental Visit Fact Sheet.