Children lose all 20 of their baby teeth, starting with the bottom front two around age 6 and finishing with the back molars around age 12. The teeth fall out in roughly the same order they came in. Here’s exactly which teeth go when, where they sit in the mouth, and what replaces them.
All 20 Baby Teeth and Where They Sit
A full set of baby teeth includes 10 on top and 10 on the bottom. Each half of each jaw holds five teeth: a central incisor (the front tooth), a lateral incisor (next to it), a canine (the pointed tooth), a first molar, and a second molar. That’s 20 teeth total, and every single one will eventually fall out to make room for 32 permanent teeth.
Here’s a simplified map of the upper and lower baby teeth, labeled by name:
Upper Teeth (from center outward, each side):
- Central incisor — the two flat front teeth
- Lateral incisor — one on each side of the central incisors
- Canine — the pointed tooth at the corner
- First molar — the first wide, flat chewing tooth
- Second molar — the farthest back tooth in a child’s mouth
Lower Teeth (same layout, mirrored):
- Central incisor — the two bottom front teeth
- Lateral incisor — flanking the central incisors
- Canine — the pointed tooth at the corner
- First molar — first chewing tooth behind the canine
- Second molar — the farthest back tooth on the bottom
The Order Teeth Fall Out
Baby teeth typically fall out in the order they first appeared. The sequence, according to Mayo Clinic data, goes like this:
- Lower central incisors (bottom front two) — first to go
- Upper central incisors (top front two) — next
- Lateral incisors (upper and lower)
- First molars (upper and lower)
- Canines (upper and lower)
- Second molars (upper and lower) — last to go
Notice that the canines fall out after the first molars, even though canines sit in front of them. This is one detail that surprises many parents. The molars loosen and shed before the pointed canine teeth do.
Age-by-Age Shedding Timeline
The American Dental Association provides specific age ranges for when each tooth is typically lost. Individual timing can vary by a year or more in either direction, but these are the standard windows:
Ages 6–7: Upper and lower central incisors. This is the classic gap-toothed smile stage.
Ages 7–8: Upper and lower lateral incisors. By the end of this phase, a child may have lost all eight front teeth at some point, though the permanent replacements are usually already growing in for the earlier ones.
Ages 9–11: Upper and lower first molars. These are the first chewing teeth to go, and they’re replaced by permanent premolars (also called bicuspids).
Ages 9–12: Canines. The lower canines can start loosening around age 9, while the upper canines often hold on until 10 to 12.
Ages 10–12: Upper and lower second molars. These are the last baby teeth to fall out, finishing the transition from a child’s set to a nearly complete adult set.
What Replaces Each Baby Tooth
Every baby tooth has a permanent successor waiting underneath it, but the replacements aren’t always the same type of tooth. The incisors and canines are replaced by permanent versions of the same tooth, just larger. The baby molars, however, are replaced by premolars, which are smaller and have a different shape than adult molars.
Permanent molars are a different story entirely. The first permanent molars come in around ages 6 to 7, emerging behind the last baby tooth rather than replacing one. The second permanent molars arrive between ages 11 and 13, also behind existing teeth. Wisdom teeth (third molars) appear much later, between ages 17 and 25, bringing the potential total to 32 permanent teeth. None of these molars replace a baby tooth because there are no baby teeth in those positions to begin with.
Why Baby Teeth Fall Out
A baby tooth doesn’t just get pushed out by the permanent tooth below it. The process is more active than that. As a permanent tooth develops and begins moving upward (or downward, for the upper jaw), the body produces specialized cells that gradually dissolve the root of the baby tooth above it. These cells break down the hard root tissue in much the same way that bone-dissolving cells remodel bone elsewhere in the body.
Chewing forces play a role too. The pressure from everyday biting and chewing generates mechanical stress on the tissues connecting the baby tooth to the jawbone. That stress triggers chemical signals that speed up root breakdown. Over weeks and months, the root shortens until the baby tooth is held in place by almost nothing, and it wiggles free. This is why a loose tooth can hang on for days or weeks before it finally comes out. The root is dissolving in stages, not all at once.
When Baby Teeth Don’t Fall Out
Sometimes a baby tooth stays put well past its expected timeline. The most common reason is that the permanent tooth underneath it is congenitally missing, meaning it never developed. This happens more often than most people realize. Studies estimate that around 2 to 13 percent of people are missing at least one permanent tooth, with prevalence varying by population. Without a permanent tooth pushing from below and triggering root breakdown, the baby tooth has no reason to loosen.
A retained baby tooth can last for years or even decades in some cases, though it’s more prone to wear and decay over time since baby teeth have thinner outer layers than adult teeth. If the baby tooth eventually fails, the gap may need to be addressed with an implant, bridge, or orthodontic treatment to close the space.
Late loss can also happen when permanent teeth are present but come in at an unusual angle, bypassing the baby tooth’s root instead of dissolving it. In these situations, you might see a permanent tooth erupting behind or in front of the baby tooth, sometimes called “shark teeth.” This is common with the lower incisors and usually resolves on its own once the baby tooth is removed or falls out naturally.
Early vs. Late Tooth Loss
Losing a first tooth at age 5 or not losing one until age 8 both fall within the range of normal. Girls tend to lose their baby teeth slightly earlier than boys. Genetics, nutrition, and the timing of permanent tooth development all influence the schedule. A child who got their baby teeth early will often lose them early too.
If a child loses a baby tooth very early from injury or decay, the permanent tooth may not be ready to fill the space for months or years. In these cases, a dentist may recommend a space maintainer, a small device that holds the gap open so surrounding teeth don’t drift into it and block the permanent tooth from coming in straight. On the other end, if a baby tooth hasn’t loosened by a year or so past the expected range, an X-ray can confirm whether the permanent tooth is developing normally underneath.