What age do children lose teeth?

The time that a child will begin losing baby teeth will vary from child to child, however, the usual age that this starts at is between the ages of 5 and 7 years. The first teeth to go are usually the lower central incisors, which are in the middle of the lower set of teeth. After this, it will be the upper central teeth. Following this, the first set of permanent molars will usually erupt. Usually, the final teeth to go are the cuspid/second molars, and this is because these teeth take the longest period to grow and thus are last to leave.

What are deciduous teeth?

Although deciduous teeth only become visible at around 6-12 months, their development begins well before this. Usually, these teeth begin while the baby is still within the womb and their healthy development will be dictated by the mother staying in good health. This will involve the mother having a good mix of calcium, vitamin C/D and phosphorus within their diet, and avoiding certain medications such as tetracycline which impedes teeth development.

The teeth development in the womb typically starts around six weeks and surrounding hard tissue around the teeth begins forming at three to five months of gestation. The next stage occurs following birth when the babies’ teeth will begin to slowly erupt. Finally, the last stage occurs when the baby teeth begin to fall out, which usually occurs after five years of age. These teeth then fall out progressively till the permanent teeth have fully taken over the mouth.

Types of teeth

To best understand children’s teeth, you will need to know the different types of teeth. The key teeth within a child’s mouth have been detailed below:

Molars

The molars come in a group of eight, with four molars in the bottom set of teeth and four in the top set of teeth. They work in conjunction with the tongue to aid in the swallowing of food, through chewing and grinding food into a smooth paste.

Incisors

The incisors come in a group of eight, withfor incisors in the front of the top set of teeth and four on the front of the bottom set of teeth. They are normally the first teeth to erupt and allow for easier cutting/chopping of food.

Premolars

These teeth can also be referred to as bicuspids and are situated between the canine teeth and molars.

Canine teeth

These teeth are sometimes referred to as ‘vampire teeth’ and are sharp pointed teeth which are located next to the incisors. They help in the cutting/shredding of food.

All deciduous teeth are typically lost at the age of around 13-14. However, there are times when deciduous teeth are lost later at around 16-17. At this point, all permanent teeth should be in place, with the potential exception of wisdom teeth which tend to erupt around the ages of 18-22 or sometimes they don’t erupt at all. In the end the initial 20 deciduous teeth should be replaced with 32 permanent teeth. The last deciduous teeth to be lost are the molars, which are replaced with permanent premolars.

Dealing with this entire process is probably best done by not rushing the process and allowing nature to take its course. This will mean avoid removing any teeth yourself by force as this can cause unnecessary discomfort or pain. If a tooth does fall out naturally then bleeding should be minimal, and there should not be any major issues. Once a tooth does fall out then teeth and gums should still be kept as clean as possible. There should also be regular dental check-ups to ensure oral hygiene is optimal and the remaining teeth are healthy.

More information about Children’s Dentistry here at Gentle Dental Care can be found on our dedicated web page. Alternatively, why not pop along to one of our twice-yearly ‘Kids Days’ to help children associate visiting the dentist as a positive experience throughout their dental journey.