Baby teeth and tooth loss guide

When do baby teeth fall out?

Cleveland Clinic says children usually lose baby teeth from about ages 6 to 12, and Healthline says the 20 baby teeth typically fall out between about 6 and 12. Teeth generally come out in the order they came in, with the lower front teeth first. By about age 13, a child should have most of the permanent teeth, and adults typically have 32.

The usual order

The sources agree on the pattern but not on every age, so these are ranges.

• Ages 6 to 7: lower central incisors, then the upper central incisors.
• Ages 7 to 8: lateral incisors, next to the front teeth, bottom first.
• Ages 9 to 12: lower canines (Cleveland Clinic says 9 to 10, Healthline 9 to 12).
• Ages 9 to 11: first molars (Cleveland Clinic 10 to 11, Healthline 9 to 11).
• Ages 10 to 12: upper canines and second molars, the last baby teeth to go.

Can molars and back teeth fall out?

Yes. Healthline says the primary first molars usually fall out between ages 9 and 11 and the primary second molars, the last baby teeth to go, between 10 and 12, and that the first molars are usually not painful to lose. Cleveland Clinic's description is similar. This is different from permanent molars in adults, which should never fall out on their own; a loose permanent tooth is a reason to see a dentist.

Loose tooth care

Cleveland Clinic says most loose teeth come out painlessly during eating or play, and that gentle wiggling with the tongue or a clean finger is fine. It says not wiggling may lead to inflammation or overgrown gums, which can make it harder for the adult tooth to emerge, and that acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help with pain or inflammation after a tooth falls out. Removing a baby tooth early can cause the adult tooth to come in crooked. Our guide on how to fix a loose tooth covers children and adults.

Keep brushing baby teeth

Baby teeth still need regular brushing and flossing, since they hold space for adult teeth, according to Cleveland Clinic. Healthline advises a first dental appointment by the child's first birthday and visits every six months after that.

When timing is outside the usual range

Cleveland Clinic says most of the time timing is normal variation, with losses often coming in bursts. It advises seeing a dentist if baby teeth fall out before age 4 or none have been lost by age 8 or 9, if permanent teeth are not coming in, if the child has significant pain, or if a tooth is lost to an injury. Healthline says to speak with a dentist if teeth come in or fall out more than a year behind the usual timeline.

Can babies be born with teeth?

Yes, occasionally. Cleveland Clinic says natal teeth are present at birth and neonatal teeth appear within the first month, with natal teeth about three times as common, and about 1 in 289 newborns worldwide estimated to have natal teeth in a 2023 analysis. They usually appear as a pair of lower central incisors. The exact cause is unknown, and genetics, some syndromes and endocrine conditions have been linked.

The concerns are teeth that move easily and could come loose, weak or underdeveloped teeth, pain or injury to the breastfeeding parent, and damage to the baby's tongue (Riga-Fede disease). Cleveland Clinic says removal is often not needed and is done only when one of those concerns applies, by a dental specialist after referral. Ask your baby's provider to check any tooth present at birth.

Looking after children's teeth

Regular brushing, regular dental visits and prompt attention to injuries protect both baby and permanent teeth. A child who loses a tooth to a fall should be seen by a dentist, even if the tooth was already loose.

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