Children lose all 20 of their baby teeth. Every primary tooth that grows in during infancy and early childhood will eventually fall out and be replaced by a permanent adult tooth. This process typically starts around age 6 and finishes by age 13.
The 20 Teeth Your Child Will Lose
A full set of baby teeth includes 20 in total: 10 on top and 10 on the bottom. That breaks down to four central incisors (the front teeth), four lateral incisors (next to the front teeth), four canines (the pointed ones), four first molars, and four second molars. Every single one of them falls out.
Adults end up with 32 permanent teeth, which means 12 of those adult teeth (the premolars, second molars, and wisdom teeth) grow in without replacing a baby tooth at all. The first permanent molars, sometimes called “6-year molars,” are a good example. They emerge behind the baby teeth in the back of the mouth rather than pushing any baby tooth out.
When Baby Teeth Fall Out
Most children lose their first baby tooth around age 6, though some don’t start until age 7. Baby teeth fall out in roughly the same order they came in. The two bottom front teeth go first, followed by the two top front teeth. After that, the lateral incisors loosen, then the first molars, canines, and finally the second molars.
Here’s the general age range for each group, based on charts from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry:
- Lower central incisors: 6 to 7 years
- Upper central incisors: 7 to 8 years
- Lower lateral incisors: 7 to 8 years
- Upper lateral incisors: 8 to 9 years
- Lower canines: 9 to 11 years
- Upper first molars: 9 to 11 years
- Lower first molars: 10 to 12 years
- Upper canines: 11 to 12 years
- Upper second molars: 9 to 12 years
- Lower second molars: 11 to 13 years
The front teeth tend to come and go quickly, often within a year or two. The back teeth take longer, with some second molars hanging on until age 12 or 13. By age 13, most children have lost all 20 baby teeth and have a nearly complete set of permanent teeth. Wisdom teeth are the exception, usually arriving closer to age 17 to 21.
How the Process Works
A baby tooth doesn’t just randomly loosen. Underneath each one, a permanent tooth is slowly developing and pushing upward (or downward, for upper teeth). As the adult tooth rises, it gradually dissolves the root of the baby tooth above it. Once enough root has been absorbed, the baby tooth becomes wobbly and eventually falls out, leaving space for the permanent tooth to come through.
This is why a baby tooth that falls out naturally looks like it barely has a root at all. The root was there originally, but it was broken down during the months before the tooth loosened.
Why Some Teeth Take Longer to Fall Out
Plenty of kids fall outside the standard timeline by a year or more, and that’s usually fine. Genetics play a large role. If you or your partner lost teeth late, your child likely will too.
There are a few other reasons a baby tooth might stick around longer than expected. Sometimes the permanent tooth underneath hasn’t fully formed yet or is developing slowly, so there’s nothing pushing the baby tooth out. In other cases, the baby tooth’s root doesn’t dissolve the way it should, keeping the tooth firmly anchored. A dental X-ray can easily show whether this is happening.
Crowding is another common cause. When a child’s jaw doesn’t have enough space, adult teeth can’t push through properly, and baby teeth stay locked in place. This doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong, but it’s worth mentioning to a dentist since crowding can affect how permanent teeth align as they come in.
When Permanent Teeth Come In Behind Baby Teeth
Sometimes a permanent tooth starts poking through the gum before the baby tooth has fallen out, creating what looks like a double row of teeth. This happens most often with the lower front teeth and is common enough that dentists sometimes call them “shark teeth.” In most cases the baby tooth loosens and falls out on its own within a few weeks once the permanent tooth is in. If it doesn’t budge after a couple of months, a dentist can remove it to let the adult tooth shift forward into the correct position.