Reviewed by Dr. Alan Baughman, DMD, MBA
Reading time: four minutes.
Does your child have a wiggly tooth? Congratulations—this is a big milestone in their life!
If you are a first-time parent, you might wonder if your child is on track. What age do kids lose teeth? Is my child ahead or behind? These are all good questions!
This milestone is an exciting step in their growth, and understanding the timeline can help you feel prepared.
In this blog, we explain what’s normal and what’s not in terms of tooth loss, when to expect your child’s baby teeth to fall out, and how to support their oral health during this milestone.
Table of Contents
- When Do Kids Lose Their First Tooth?
- What’s Normal and What’s Not
- Early Tooth Loss Treatment
- How to Care for Your Child’s Smile
- Give Your Child a Healthy, Confident Smile—Schedule a Visit Today
Key Takeaway
Kids usually lose their first tooth around 6-7 years old. Regular dental visits every six months will help keep their smile healthy and ensure proper tooth development.
When Do Kids Lose Their First Tooth?
Most kids lose their first tooth around 6 to 7 years old, but some may start as early as 5 or as late as 8.
The process usually begins with the bottom front teeth (lower incisors) followed by the upper central incisors (top front teeth).
Tooth loss follows a natural sequence as permanent teeth replace primary teeth. Here’s a general timeline:
| Tooth Type | Age of Loss |
| Lower central incisors | 6-7 years old |
| Upper central incisors | 6-7 years old |
| Lower lateral incisors | 7-8 years old |
| Upper lateral incisors | 7-8 years old |
| First primary molars | 9-11 years old |
| Canine teeth | 9-12 years old |
| Second primary molars | 10-12 years old |
By 12-13 years old, most kids will have their full set of permanent adult teeth, except for wisdom teeth, which erupt between 17-25 years old or may not erupt at all.
Learn more about the number of teeth kids lose in this blog: How Many Teeth Do Kids Lose?
What’s Normal and What’s Not
Regular dental check ups are the best way to make sure your child’s dental development is on track. You should bring your child to the dentist around their first birthday or within 6 months of their first tooth emerging.
Dental checkups aren’t just for the benefit of the child! Parents are a big part of the process and we make sure you are involved every step of the way. We make sure parents are educated about what’s normal and what’s not, so you can keep an eye on their dental development between appointments.
Normal tooth loss:
- Teeth become wiggly before falling out
- There should be minimal bleeding that stops quickly with a piece of gauze
- Permanent teeth start erupting soon after a baby tooth falls out
- They shouldn’t experience pain with a loose tooth
Signs of a problem:
- Early tooth loss (before age 5) due to trauma, decay, or gum disease
- Delayed tooth loss (still has baby teeth past age 13)
- Permanent teeth not emerging within a few months after baby teeth fall out
- Crowded teeth or crooked baby teeth affecting alignment
- Swollen gum tissue, pain, or signs of infection
Early Tooth Loss Treatment
If a child loses a baby tooth too early—whether due to injury, decay, or other dental issues—it can cause problems with how their permanent teeth come in.
Baby teeth act as placeholders for adult teeth, guiding them into the correct position. When a tooth is lost too soon, nearby teeth may shift into the empty space, leading to crowding, misalignment, or bite problems.
To prevent this, dentists may recommend a space maintainer—a small, custom-made dental device that holds the space open until the permanent tooth is ready to erupt. Space maintainers help:
- Prevent shifting of surrounding teeth.
- Maintain proper alignment for adult teeth.
- Reduce the risk of orthodontic issues later on.
How to Care for Your Child’s Smile
Proper oral hygiene helps prevent dental decay and promotes healthy teeth as new adult teeth emerge.
Daily care tips:
- Brush teeth twice daily with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Check out this blog: Hot Topic: Is Fluoride Bad For You?
- Floss once daily to protect gum health
- Encourage your child to drink plenty of water
- Serve soft foods when a tooth is loose or recently lost
- Schedule dental checkups every 6 months
Looking for dentist-approved lunch ideas? Here are Healthy Lunches for Healthy Smiles: Dentist-Approved Kids’ Lunch Ideas to keep your child’s teeth strong.
Give Your Child a Healthy, Confident Smile—Schedule a Visit Today
Losing baby teeth should be an exciting milestone, not a stressful experience. Our team in Greeley, CO, is here to provide expert dental care and guidance for every stage of your child’s smile. To book an appointment at our dental office in Greeley, CO, call (970) 515-3550 or visit us at 3110 67th Ave Pl, Greeley, CO. visit.
