When Do Kids Start Losing Baby Teeth – Age Timeline

Most children begin losing their baby teeth around age 6, though the normal range is age 4 to age 8. The lower front teeth fall out first, and the process finishes around age 12 to 13 when the last back molars are shed.

The Complete Baby Tooth Loss Timeline

Children lose their 20 baby teeth in a predictable order that mirrors the sequence in which those teeth originally came in. The table below shows every tooth type and its typical age of loss.

The full process spans roughly 6 to 7 years, beginning around age 6 and concluding between ages 12 and 13.

What Age Do Kids Lose Their First Baby Tooth?

The average age for losing the first baby tooth is 6 years old, with a normal range of age 4 to age 8 recognized by pediatric dentists. Girls tend to lose teeth slightly earlier than boys, often by 6 months to a full year.

Losing a first tooth at age 5 is within the normal range and is not a cause for concern. A child who loses a tooth before age 4 or still has no loose teeth by age 8 to 9 should be evaluated by a pediatric dentist.

Which Tooth Falls Out First?

The lower central incisors (the two bottom front teeth) are almost always the first baby teeth to fall out, typically at age 6 to 7. The upper central incisors follow shortly after at roughly the same age.

Permanent teeth begin pushing upward from below even before the baby tooth above them is visibly loose. This upward pressure is what triggers the familiar wiggling sensation children notice first.

How Many Baby Teeth Do Kids Have?

Children have exactly 20 baby teeth: 10 on the upper jaw and 10 on the lower jaw. The full set consists of 8 incisors, 4 canines, and 8 molars.

Adults have 32 permanent teeth, including the four wisdom teeth (also called third molars, meaning the rearmost teeth that typically arrive between ages 17 and 25). The jaw grows substantially between childhood and adulthood to accommodate the larger, more numerous permanent set.

Signs a Baby Tooth Is Ready to Come Out

A baby tooth is ready to come out when the child can wiggle it freely with minimal effort. The signs below indicate the tooth is close to falling out on its own.

1. The tooth rotates and moves in multiple directions, not just side to side.
2. Gum tissue around the base looks slightly pink or swollen.
3. A permanent tooth is already visibly erupting behind or directly below the baby tooth.
4. The tooth has been progressively loosening over 2 to 4 weeks.
5. The tooth feels nearly detached and the root has largely dissolved.

Most genuinely loose teeth fall out on their own within 1 to 4 weeks once wiggling begins. Forcing a tooth that still has resistance can tear gum tissue and cause unnecessary pain.

Why the Sequence of Tooth Loss Matters for Spacing

Teeth fall out in the same sequence they erupted, a pattern called the shedding sequence (the predictable order in which primary teeth loosen and fall out as permanent teeth push upward to replace them). This sequence matters because each permanent tooth depends on the space vacated by its baby tooth predecessor to erupt correctly.

When a baby tooth is lost more than 12 months ahead of schedule, neighboring teeth can drift into the empty gap. That shifting creates crowding or misalignment that may require orthodontic correction later.

Pediatric dentists address premature gaps with a space maintainer (a small fixed or removable dental appliance that holds the gap open so the permanent tooth can erupt into the correct position without obstruction). Space maintainers are most commonly placed after premature loss of back baby teeth.

Early Tooth Loss: What Counts as Too Early?

Losing a baby tooth before age 4 is considered premature and warrants a dental evaluation. The four most common causes and recommended responses are listed below.

A pediatric dentist can X-ray the area after any early tooth loss to confirm the permanent tooth bud underneath is developing normally and on schedule.

Late Tooth Loss: When to See a Dentist

A child with no loose teeth by age 8 should have X-rays taken to confirm permanent teeth are developing beneath the gums. Most cases of slightly delayed tooth loss reflect normal individual variation and need no treatment.

Baby teeth that remain firmly in place past age 13 or 14 may indicate a permanent successor tooth is congenitally absent, a condition called hypodontia (the absence of one or more permanent teeth from birth, affecting approximately 20% of the U.S. population in at least a mild form). Dental X-rays taken around age 10 typically identify missing permanent teeth early enough for proactive planning.

How Early or Late Loss Affects Permanent Teeth

Premature baby tooth loss does not directly cause crooked adult teeth, but it reduces the available space that guides permanent teeth into correct position. The greater the time gap between early loss and the permanent tooth’s natural eruption window, the greater the risk of neighboring teeth drifting and creating misalignment.

A baby tooth that overstays its natural exit date can force the permanent tooth to erupt out of position, often appearing directly behind the retained tooth. This double-row appearance is commonly called shark teeth and typically self-corrects within a few months once the baby tooth is removed.

How Permanent Teeth Grow In After Baby Teeth Fall Out

Permanent teeth begin forming inside the jawbone well before the baby tooth above them becomes loose. The permanent tooth’s root growth creates upward pressure that gradually dissolves the baby tooth’s root through root resorption (the biological process by which the body breaks down and absorbs the root of a primary tooth as the permanent tooth beneath it grows).

Once enough root is resorbed, the baby tooth loses its anchor and becomes mobile. Most permanent teeth emerge fully within a few weeks to 3 months after the baby tooth is gone. Front permanent teeth look noticeably large at first because the face has not yet grown to match them, a proportionality that corrects naturally over the following years.

Caring for the Gap After a Baby Tooth Falls Out

Minor bleeding after a baby tooth falls out is normal and typically stops within 10 to 15 minutes when the child bites gently on a clean damp gauze pad or cloth.

Parents should monitor the empty socket over the following week. Signs that warrant a dental call include persistent swelling beyond 3 to 5 days, redness spreading to surrounding gum tissue, or any discharge from the socket.

Rinsing with warm salt water (roughly half a teaspoon of salt dissolved in 8 ounces of warm water) once or twice daily helps keep the socket clean while it heals.

Nutrition and Brushing During the Tooth-Losing Years

Children between ages 6 and 12 are in the mixed dentition phase (the period when a child simultaneously has both baby teeth and permanent teeth in the mouth, roughly ages 6 to 12). Newly erupted permanent teeth have slightly more porous enamel than mature permanent teeth and are more susceptible to decay during this developmental window.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and flossing once daily throughout the mixed dentition phase.

The first permanent molars erupt around age 6 to 7 without replacing any baby teeth, arriving as additions to the existing set rather than replacements. These teeth are the most cavity-prone in the mouth and are strong candidates for dental sealants (thin plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth to seal bacteria and food particles out of the deep grooves where cavities most often form).

When to Schedule Dental Visits Around Tooth Loss

Routine dental checkups every 6 months allow a dentist to track the sequence and pace of tooth loss through visual exams and periodic X-rays. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a child’s first dental visit by age 1 or within 6 months of the first tooth erupting, whichever comes first.

X-rays taken around age 6 to 7 confirm all permanent teeth are forming on schedule and can reveal emerging crowding before it becomes difficult to correct. A second round of X-rays around age 10 helps identify any missing permanent teeth and determine whether early orthodontic planning is needed.

Orthodontic Screening and the Tooth-Loss Window

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an initial orthodontic evaluation by age 7 because enough permanent teeth have erupted by that point to reveal the full spacing and bite pattern. This evaluation does not mean treatment will begin immediately; it simply establishes a baseline.

Phase 1 orthodontic treatment (early intervention that begins while a child still has baby teeth, typically between ages 7 and 10) is used when jaw growth needs to be guided or space needs to be created before the full permanent dentition arrives. Not every child requires it, but early identification expands the available treatment options and can simplify later care.

Baby Teeth vs. Permanent Teeth: Side-by-Side Comparison

The Tooth Fairy: Average Payout Trends in the U.S.

The Tooth Fairy tradition is nearly universal among American families, and the average payout per tooth has risen each year. Delta Dental’s annual Original Tooth Fairy Poll tracks U.S. averages.

A child who receives the 2023 average of $6.23 for each of their 20 baby teeth would collect approximately $124.60 over the full tooth-losing years. Children in the Northeast tend to receive more per tooth than those in the South or Midwest.

Common Mistakes Parents Make During the Tooth-Loss Years

1. Pulling a tooth too early: Removing a tooth before root resorption is complete tears gum tissue and causes preventable pain and bleeding.
2. Leaving a barely-attached tooth too long: A tooth hanging by a thread can be a choking hazard and traps food, raising infection risk.
3. Skipping a dental visit after premature loss: Missing this appointment means missing the window to place a space maintainer if one is needed.
4. Not cleaning the gap: The empty socket traps food; a warm salt water rinse once or twice daily prevents irritation and promotes healing.
5. Panicking over timeline differences: First tooth loss anywhere between age 4 and age 8 is normal. Only loss before age 4 or no loosening by age 9 warrants a dental evaluation.

Retained Baby Teeth in Teenagers

A baby tooth still firmly in place at age 14 or 15 with no permanent successor erupting beneath it is called an over-retained primary tooth (a baby tooth that stays embedded because no permanent tooth exists beneath it to trigger root resorption and natural exfoliation). Over-retention is most common in the upper lateral incisor and second premolar positions.

Three management options exist for over-retained teeth, depending on the tooth’s health and the patient’s goals.

1. Leave it in place if the tooth is structurally sound. Some over-retained baby teeth function well into adulthood.
2. Extract and close or manage the space with orthodontics, redistributing spacing across the arch.
3. Extract and place a dental implant (a titanium post anchored in the jawbone that supports a replacement crown) once jaw growth is complete, typically after age 18.

Dental Coverage for Children Across the United States

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) cover dental care for eligible children in all 50 states, including routine exams, X-rays, cleanings, and fillings. Families can check eligibility and find covered providers at insurekidsnow.gov.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) designates many rural and lower-income areas as Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (DHPSAs), meaning regions where the ratio of dental providers to population falls below the federal adequacy threshold. Families in these areas can locate federally funded community health centers offering dental services on a sliding-fee scale at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.

Most private health insurance plans sold through Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace exchanges are required to include pediatric dental coverage as an essential health benefit for children under age 19. Parents should confirm whether dental is bundled into their medical plan or offered as a separate add-on, as the two structures differ in how deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums apply.

FAQs

At what age do kids start losing baby teeth?

Most children lose their first baby tooth at around age 6, with a normal range of age 4 to age 8. The lower front teeth are almost always first. If your child reaches age 9 without any loose teeth, a pediatric dentist should take X-rays to confirm permanent teeth are developing normally beneath the gums.

What is the first tooth kids usually lose?

The lower central incisors (the two bottom front teeth) are the first baby teeth to fall out in nearly all children, typically at age 6 to 7. The upper two front teeth follow at roughly the same age. This order matches the sequence in which those teeth originally erupted during infancy.

Is it normal for a 5-year-old to lose a tooth?

Yes. Losing a first tooth at age 5 is within the accepted normal range of age 4 to age 8. If the tooth was lost because of decay or injury rather than natural loosening, a dentist should evaluate whether a space maintainer is needed to hold the gap open until the permanent tooth is ready.

How long does it take to lose all baby teeth?

The complete process takes approximately 6 to 7 years, starting around age 6 and finishing between ages 12 and 13. Only one or two teeth are typically loose at the same time, and several months can pass between individual losses.

Should I pull my child’s loose tooth?

You should only assist if the tooth is extremely loose and moves freely in all directions with almost no resistance. A tooth at that stage can be gently twisted free with clean hands. Pulling a tooth that still offers noticeable resistance can tear gum tissue, cause significant pain, and raise the risk of minor infection.

What if a permanent tooth grows in behind the baby tooth?

A permanent tooth erupting directly behind a baby tooth, an appearance parents often call “shark teeth,” is common and usually self-corrects within a few weeks once the baby tooth naturally falls out. If the baby tooth shows no loosening at all and the permanent tooth is already significantly erupted, a dentist may recommend extracting the baby tooth to allow the permanent tooth to migrate forward into proper alignment.

How much does the Tooth Fairy leave per tooth in the U.S.?

The national average in 2023 was $6.23 per tooth according to Delta Dental’s annual Tooth Fairy Poll. Regional amounts vary, with families in the Northeast typically giving more than those in the South or Midwest. A child receiving the average payout for all 20 baby teeth would collect approximately $124.60 in total.

When should my child first see a dentist?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first dental visit by age 1 or within 6 months of the first baby tooth appearing, whichever comes first. Starting early establishes a dental home, allows monitoring of eruption patterns, and gives dentists the opportunity to apply fluoride varnish to protect newly emerging teeth.

Can a baby tooth fall out and grow back?

No. Humans have only two natural sets of teeth: 20 baby teeth followed by up to 32 permanent teeth. Once a baby tooth is gone, the permanent tooth beneath it will erupt to fill the space, typically within a few weeks to 3 months. There is no third set of teeth.

What causes a child to lose teeth earlier than expected?

The most common cause of early tooth loss in U.S. children is early childhood tooth decay, sometimes called baby bottle tooth decay (severe decay in young children linked to prolonged exposure to sugary liquids from a bottle or sippy cup). Physical trauma such as a fall or sports injury is the second most common cause. In rare cases, underlying medical conditions affecting bone density or immune function can cause premature loss and should be evaluated by both a pediatric dentist and a physician.

Do girls lose baby teeth earlier than boys?

Yes. Girls typically lose their baby teeth earlier than boys by approximately 6 months to 1 year, consistent with the broader developmental pattern of girls reaching milestones slightly ahead of boys during childhood. The standard age ranges of age 4 to age 8 for the first lost tooth and age 12 to 13 for the last apply to children regardless of sex.

What is the last baby tooth to fall out?

The upper and lower second molars (the large teeth at the very back of the baby tooth row) are typically the last to fall out, usually between ages 10 and 13. Once they are gone, all permanent teeth except the wisdom teeth should be in place. Wisdom teeth arrive much later, typically between ages 17 and 25.