Most children lose their front teeth between ages 6 and 7. The bottom two front teeth (central incisors) typically fall out first, followed by the top two. This gives kids that classic gap-toothed grin, usually right around first grade.
Which Front Teeth Fall Out First
Baby teeth generally fall out in the same order they arrived. The two lower central incisors come out first, usually around age 6. The two upper central incisors follow shortly after, typically by age 7. The teeth just beside those, called lateral incisors, fall out between ages 7 and 8.
So the full “front teeth” timeline looks like this:
- Lower central incisors: age 6 to 7
- Upper central incisors: age 6 to 7
- Lower lateral incisors: age 7 to 8
- Upper lateral incisors: age 7 to 8
After the front teeth, the rest of the baby teeth continue falling out in a roughly front-to-back pattern: first molars, then canines, then second molars. Most children have lost all 20 baby teeth by age 12 or 13.
Why Baby Teeth Fall Out
A baby tooth doesn’t just loosen randomly. When a permanent tooth is ready to come in, specialized cells called odontoclasts activate along the root of the baby tooth above it. These cells gradually break down the root material, dissolving it from the inside. As the root gets shorter and thinner, the tooth loses its anchor in the jawbone and starts to wobble.
This process is driven by inflammatory signals that recruit those root-dissolving cells to the right spot at the right time. It’s the same basic mechanism your body uses to remodel bone throughout your life, just targeted very precisely at one tiny root. By the time a baby tooth feels loose enough to wiggle with your tongue, most of the root has already been absorbed. That’s why baby teeth that fall out naturally look like they barely have roots at all.
When Permanent Front Teeth Come In
The permanent tooth usually starts pushing through the gum within a few weeks to a few months after the baby tooth falls out. Lower permanent central incisors typically appear between ages 6 and 7, while upper permanent central incisors come in between 7 and 8. Permanent lateral incisors follow about a year later.
It’s common for the new teeth to look oversized compared to the baby teeth they replaced. This is normal. A child’s jaw is still growing, and their face will eventually catch up to those bigger adult teeth. The permanent incisors may also come in slightly crooked or spaced apart, which often corrects on its own as neighboring teeth fill in.
Sometimes a permanent tooth starts erupting before the baby tooth has fallen out, creating a “shark tooth” appearance where two rows overlap briefly. This happens most often with the lower front teeth and usually resolves on its own as the baby tooth loosens and comes out.
What to Do With a Loose Tooth
The best approach is patience. Let the tooth come out on its own. Kids will naturally wiggle it with their tongue or fingers, and that gentle pressure is fine. Forcing a tooth out before it’s ready can cause unnecessary pain, bleeding, or damage to the gum tissue.
A tooth that’s barely hanging on can be gently twisted by the child. If it comes out with light pressure, it was ready. If there’s resistance, give it more time. Some teeth take weeks of wiggling before they finally let go.
Once the tooth is out, a little bleeding is normal. Have your child bite down on a clean piece of gauze or a damp washcloth for a few minutes. The socket typically heals within a day or two.
Early or Late Tooth Loss
There’s a wide range of normal. Some children lose their first tooth at age 5, while others don’t lose one until closer to 8. Girls tend to lose teeth slightly earlier than boys. The timing is largely genetic, so if you lost your teeth early or late as a child, your kids may follow the same pattern.
Losing a baby tooth before age 4, especially from decay or injury rather than natural loosening, can be a concern because the permanent tooth may not be ready to fill the gap for years. That empty space can allow neighboring teeth to shift, potentially causing alignment problems later. In these cases, a dentist may recommend a space maintainer, a small device that holds the gap open until the permanent tooth is ready to come through.
On the other end, if a child still hasn’t lost any teeth by age 8, it’s worth mentioning at a dental visit. In rare cases, a permanent tooth may be missing entirely or positioned in a way that prevents it from pushing the baby tooth out. A simple X-ray can show what’s happening beneath the gums.