Dental Check-Up Reminder: When to Expect Baby Tooth Loss
Did you ever get a visit from the Tooth Fairy when you were a kid? The Tooth Fairy may have come to take your baby tooth and leave money under your pillow as you slept. This probably happened two or three times a year, starting when you were in early elementary school.
If you have a child who’s 5 or 6 years old, you can expect some front teeth to start falling out soon. Northside Dental Clinic explains when you should expect your child’s baby teeth to fall out as part of a dental check-up.
General Rule of Thumb
A general rule of thumb is that the first teeth that come in as a baby are also the first to come out as they get older. Some other factors may contribute to early tooth loss, such as decay, injury, or needing placement for a retainer. Northside Dental Clinic can point out any potential difficulties if one of our dentists notices something amiss with your child’s baby teeth during a dental check-up.
Related Post: How to Replace a Missing Tooth
Front Teeth
The first baby teeth to come in are the front ones, called incisors, anywhere from 6 to 12 months old. They fall out naturally somewhere between 6 and 7 years old. Keep in mind this is just an approximation. Your child’s actual baby tooth loss may vary from these normal ages.
Next are the teeth beside the front incisors, called lateral incisors. These are the teeth on either side of the front ones. Expect your child to lose these baby teeth around 7 to 8 years old, typically after the front ones come out. We’ll discuss the best practices for baby tooth loss during your dental check-up.
First Molars
First molars are the next teeth to fall out. These are the first set of flat teeth that help your child chew their food after taking a bite. You may see the first molars fall out between 9 and 11 years old. Second molars, the ones behind the first molars, generally come out a couple of years later at ages 10 to 12.
Canines
The canines are special teeth. They’re the pointy ones in between the incisors and molars. Your child’s canines fall out between 10 and 12 years old. These teeth depart from the ordinary pattern of the front baby teeth falling out first and working backward. That’s okay. This is totally normal. During a dental check-up, our staff can explain the best ways your child can eat his or her favorite foods while dealing with baby tooth loss.
Regular Dental Check-Ups at Northside Dental Clinic
Children should get regular dental check-ups once every six months to help prevent cavities and other dental problems. Contact Northside Dental Clinic or call (417) 862-2468 to ask for more information and make an appointment.