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The biggest piece of advice for parents when it comes to kids' tooth loss is that if you intend to go the Tooth Fairy route, begin planning early. Inevitably you'll bolt upright in bed at 4 a.m. one early morning as waves of panic take over as you tear the house apart searching for a dollar bill or some spare change.
What you don't want to leave up to chance, however, is knowing when to expect those adorable little baby teeth to fall out. Not only will you be Tooth Fairy prepared, but you'll also have some general guidelines to help you determine whether or not any issues need to be addressed with your child's dentist. Here are 8 things you need to know about tooth loss.
Baby tooth loss
1) Even before your child is born, their teeth are developing.
This is one of the reasons why doctors stress the importance of nutrition during pregnancy. Often once you start feeling as though you might be pregnant, your baby's teeth have already started developing.
Dr. Alice M. Horowitz is the head of the Herschel S. Horowitz Center for Health Literacy at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. She, along with Colorado dentist and author Dr. Jeanette Courtad, collaborated on the book series Toothful Tales, designed to stress the importance of oral health during pregnancy and during baby's first few months.
"We teach moms to begin cleaning their infants' mouths as soon as they come home from the birthing center," Dr. Horowitz explained in an American Dental Association article.
As you reach your second trimester, your baby's teeth will continue to develop within the gums. Teeth will generally start to emerge when your baby is around 6 months old. As a result, anything that seems out of the ordinary while nursing or caring for your child may warrant a visit to the dentist.
Heidi Spears Gray's grandson underwent a frenotomy to correct the tongue-tie (ankyloglossia). "When your baby has trouble latching, taking them to a dentist might be the only way you find the issue, especially if others haven't caught it," she advised Mom.com. "Our grandbaby had seen three different doctors and it wasn't diagnosed with a tongue-tie until they took him to a dentist at 6 months old."
2) There are 20 deciduous or primary teeth.
Your child's first teeth will continue to come in until all 20 primary teeth have erupted. It should be smooth sailing until about kindergarten. You'll then likely want to ensure the Tooth Fairy has all of her ducks in a row. She'll be quite busy for a few years. Eventually, permanent teeth will replace your child's primary teeth. Typically baby teeth will fall out in an upper and lower pattern. Expect that once their upper central incisors fall out, the lower central incisors are not far behind.
3) Kids' tooth loss will vary by child.
Gina Lincicum was worried about how long it was taking for her firstborn's teeth to come in and later fall out. "The pediatrician explained that all kids are on a slightly different schedule," she told Mom.com. "With the latter, we were already visiting the dentist (he didn't lose his first tooth until the beginning of second grade). They had done X-rays and weren't concerned."
Primary tooth loss and eruption chart
4) Baby tooth loss follows a distinct pattern as indicated in the tooth loss chart.
- Central incisor – usually falls out around age 6
- Lateral incisor – typically lost between ages 7 and 8
- Canine (cuspid) – fall out between ages 10 to 12
- First molar – usually fall out between ages 9 and 10
- Second molar – typically are lost by age 12
Interestingly, baby tooth loss often coincides with a few milestones in your child's life. This may help parents to remember when they should expect primary teeth to fall out. During your child's kindergarten year, they will have begun losing their central incisors.
5) Your child should have all 32 of their permanent teeth by age 12.
Once your child has reached the age of 12, they will have lost their second molars. At this point, they will have their full set of 32 permanent teeth. Because there are so many milestones met and rites of passage marked during the tween years, your child's dentist can answer any questions you have.
When should your child see a dentist?
6) Yes, your baby should visit the dentist.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that parents bring their children to the dentist for the first time once your baby's first tooth erupts. Some factors to consider that may affect your child's dental health include early signs of tooth decay as a result of bottles of juice, teething issues, nursing suggestions and troubleshooting, and potential pacifier concerns.
7) Visiting the dentist early and often will help minimize stress or apprehension over future appointments.
Establishing a regular dental routine with your young child is beneficial for the care of your child's teeth as they age. Regular routine visits make visiting the dentist a normal part of your preschooler's life and sets them up for future success.
8) Poll friends and family for dentist recommendations to find the right fit for your family.
Ari Adams told Mom.com that when choosing a dentist, "one of my most important tips is the staff’s willingness to educate parents on proper home dental care and being able to use flexible techniques for uncooperative kids."
Choosing the right dentist for your family is an individual decision based on factors only you can determine. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry provides an online pediatric dentist search tool, and recommendations from friends and family as well as social media can all be helpful resources.
