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ATS Dental Clinic child care for baby teeth

When do Baby Teeth Typically Fall Out?

First we see when baby tooth comes out

  • A general rule of thumb is that for every 6 months of life, approximately 4 teeth will erupt.
  • Girls generally precede boys in tooth eruption.
  • Lower teeth usually erupt before upper teeth.
  • Teeth in both jaws usually erupt in pairs one on the right and one on the left.
  • Primary teeth are smaller in size and whiter in color than the permanent teeth that will follow.
  • By the time a child is 2 to 3 years of age, all primary teeth should have erupted.

Shortly after age 4, the jaw and facial bones of the child begin to grow, creating spaces between the primary teeth. This is a perfectly natural growth process that provides the necessary space for the larger permanent teeth to emerge. Between the ages of 6 and 12, a mixture of both primary teeth and permanent teeth reside in the mouth.

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Most children begin losing their baby teeth between the ages of six and eight. They typically fall out in roughly the same order in which they grew. Keep in mind that all patients are different. Children and adult oral conditions depend on how long they've gone without an appointment, how long a child's baby teeth last, and what kinds of things you are naturally more sensitive to.

The following flowchart shows when baby tooth comes in and fallout

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Baby teeth usually stay in place until they are pushed out by permanent teeth. If a child loses a baby tooth early as a result of tooth decay or an accident, a permanent tooth might drift into the empty space. This can crowd permanent teeth and cause them to come in crooked.

It's important to start practicing good oral hygiene as soon as your child's first baby tooth erupts. As your child starts to lose his or her baby teeth, reinforce the importance of proper dental care

Why is it important to Care for Baby Teeth?

While it's true that baby teeth are only in the mouth a short period of time, they play a vital role. Baby teeth:

  • Reserve space for their permanent counterparts
  • Give the face its normal appearance.
  • Aid in the development of clear speech.
  • Help attain good nutrition (missing or decayed teeth make it difficult to chew, causing children to reject foods)
  • Help give a healthy start to the permanent teeth (decay and infection in baby teeth can cause damage to the permanent teeth developing beneath them)

To understand the problems that decaying baby teeth can cause in permanent teeth, see oral health problems in children

Children should usually be seen by a dentist by the age of 1 or within 6 months after their first tooth comes in.

What parents to do?

  • Remind your child to brush his or her teeth at least twice a day. Supervise and offer assistance as needed.
  • Help your child clean between his or her teeth daily.
  • Eat a healthy diet and limit sugary food and beverages.
  • Schedule regular dental visits for your child.

With proper care, you can help your child's permanent teeth last a lifetime.