At what age do children lose their baby teeth?

When baby teeth erupt

The timing of the appearance of baby teeth depends on the hereditary factor and the baby’s nutrition. On average they look like this:

• the first lower incisors appear at 6-9 months, and the first upper ones at 7-10;
• second upper and lower - at approximately 9-12 months;
• first upper “root” (chewing) – 12-18 months;
• first lower chewing – 13-19 months;
• second lower “root” – 20-23 months;
• second upper chewing – 24-26 months;
• fangs erupt between 16-17 and 20-22 months.

How long does it take for baby teeth to change?

Parents need to know not only when a child’s baby teeth begin to fall out and in what order the permanent ones grow. The time required for complete replacement of baby teeth with permanent teeth is also important.

It takes 6 to 8 years for all permanent teeth to appear. This time is needed for the appearance of the front and side teeth:

• incisors;
• molars;
• fangs.

In girls, baby teeth begin to change a year faster, in boys a little later. The start of replacement and its duration depend on a number of factors:

• heredity;
• food quality;
• water quality;
• oral hygiene.

The front incisors grow first, then the incisors and canines. The molars are the last teeth to appear. The time when baby teeth are replaced with real ones should be the period when a child gets used to caring for the oral cavity. This will keep the permanent ones in good condition.

At what age does teeth change?

The eruption of permanent teeth and the loss of temporary teeth occur simultaneously - usually in the same order in which they grew. This sequence often looks like this:

• 5-6 years – change of lower and upper incisors;
• 6-8 years – loss of lateral incisors;
• 8-10 years – appearance of the first premolars;
• 9-11 years – growth of fangs;
• 11-13 years – change of second molars.

Third molars, or wisdom teeth, appear much later, but for now their absence does not in the least prevent the child from chewing food. In general, a complete change of dentition ends by the age of 14. If this does not happen, you should consult an orthodontist.

If teeth do not fall out within the specified period, there is no need to panic. This is probably due to the individual characteristics of the child. In this case, dentists recommend eating solid foods and keeping the situation under the supervision of a specialist. If the permanent tooth grows but the baby tooth is still in place, it may need to be removed. In other cases, late change of teeth does not affect their health in the future.

Why do teeth change?

During the period of replacement of milk teeth with permanent teeth, the child’s masticatory apparatus undergoes certain changes due to the fact that the developing organism has an increased need to consume solid adult food, for which milk teeth are not suitable.

The baby's chewing apparatus grows and develops from the moment he is born until he completes his growth. Until one year of age, a child does not need many baby teeth, since his main food is mother's milk. By the age of 12 months, a baby has 10 teeth, which is enough for him.

In total, children grow 20 dental units in their mouths by the time their baby teeth are replaced. Another 10 teeth grow by 2-3 years, as the chewing apparatus continues to develop. At 5-6 years of age, the jaw is fully formed, and when the child’s baby teeth begin to fall out, permanent teeth appear in their place.

They cannot withstand the heavy chewing load when chewing solid food, so natural replacement of the dentition occurs. This is a painless process, since before falling out the tooth gradually loosens and then moves away from the gum.

How molars grow

• First, teeth 1 through 6 erupt and the central incisors are replaced.
• Then the processes slow down as the body needs rest.
• The formation and intensive growth of molars and premolars begins.

Ideally, the appearance of permanent teeth occurs in the following sequence:

1. sixth teeth;
2. permanent central primary incisors;
3. molar lateral incisors;
4. fangs;
5. “fives” instead of second premolars;
6. “sevens” (11-13 years old);
7. "eight" - after 16 years.

The central incisors erupt the fastest. The canines are somewhat slower, and the molars take the longest to grow. This process takes many years and requires close attention from parents, dentist and orthodontist.

Changing baby teeth - reasons for delay

The opposite situation is that teeth are delayed for a long time and cannot erupt. In this case, it is recommended to take a panoramic x-ray to clearly see the rudiments of permanent incisors and molars and understand the condition of the root system.

There are more specific reasons than early teething; they can be either congenital or acquired:

• genetic diseases affecting the condition of bone tissue;
• consequences of rickets;
• phenylketonuria;
• poor ecology and harmful composition of drinking water;
• hormonal imbalances and diabetes;
• chronic gastrointestinal disorders.

A child’s baby tooth has fallen out: what to do?

There is usually no pain after prolapse, despite bleeding. If the baby is afraid of blood, he needs to be calmed down. To stop it, you need to make a tampon from a bandage or sterile cotton wool and apply it to the gum. In a few minutes everything will pass. It is advisable not to feed or water the child for 2-3 hours. For aseptic treatment of a wound in the mouth, a solution of salt, soda, iodine is suitable, which should be used to rinse the oral cavity several times.

If you are just expecting this exciting event, try to prepare your child for it in advance. Tell him what awaits him and why this happens, come up with an interesting ritual associated, for example, with receiving a gift or sweets in exchange for a lost tooth.

What should parents do when changing teeth?

Usually, the eruption of permanent teeth does not cause discomfort in children, and mild soreness of the gums can be relieved with anesthetic gels.

If a wound forms in the place where the tooth fell out, you can apply a sterile cotton ball to it for 5 minutes. After tooth loss, it is recommended not to eat for 2 hours and to exclude sour, spicy and salty foods from the diet for the whole day.

• Loosen and pull out baby teeth - they should fall out on their own
• Picking your mouth with sharp objects
• Nibble on caramels and nuts
• Cauterize wounds with antiseptics

Reasons for late eruption

Normally, after a baby tooth falls out, it takes 1-2 months for the permanent tooth to erupt. This is the longest period. In most cases, the rudiments of a permanent tooth can already be seen at the site of the lost tooth.

But, if a child’s toothless smile persists for 3 months or more, then this is a cause for concern for parents.

Let's consider why such dental pathology occurs:

1. Retention

   – a common condition that mainly affects the incisors and canines. They cannot erupt due to dense gums or because they rest against neighboring teeth. There are complete and partial retention. With the full form, a healthy root is visible in the picture, but it is completely under the gum. With partial retention, only part of the crown is visible. In this case, surgical assistance is required.

2. Edentia

   – a congenital pathology in which there is a lack of rudiments of permanent dental units. Can be complete or partial (sparse teeth). A rare disease. Orthopedic treatment is required as early as possible.

3. Impact

   – delayed eruption in this pathology is associated with a mechanical obstacle, that is, the child has a supernumerary of dental units. In this case, the permanent root simply does not have room to erupt. Impaction can only be detected using a panoramic x-ray of the jaw.

The sooner the child is examined by a doctor, the higher the chance of having an even and complete dentition.

Is there a pattern for tooth loss?

It is believed that the first permanent tooth appears immediately after the baby tooth falls out. Actually this is not true.

“At the age of five or six years, children’s first molar teeth erupt,” comments a pediatric dentist at the “All Yours!” Dentistry. Victoria Arutyunova. - This is the sixth tooth, which is located behind all the milk teeth. And only after this the change from the milk bite to a permanent one begins.”

This happens in a certain order:

• the first stage at 6-7 years . The central incisors change, first on the lower jaw, then on the upper;
• second stage at 7-8 years . Time to change the second incisors, which will also fall out first at the bottom and then at the top;
• third stage at 8-9 years . There are fangs immediately behind the incisors, but they will not change now. At this stage, the “fours” located immediately behind the fangs should change;
• fourth stage at 9-10 years . Time to change canines, and then molars;
• fifth stage at 10-11 years . By this age, the child should have replaced molars. The process of tooth loss in children is completed.

“At the age of 10-11, the last milk teeth fall out, and the bite becomes permanent,” notes Victoria Arutyunova. - But the growth of molars does not end there. There are still “sevens” and “eights” left - the second painters, who erupt at 12-13 years of age. And also wisdom teeth or third molars, which grow after 18 years. But in general, we can say that by the age of 12, all the teeth in the child’s mouth will be permanent.”

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Is it necessary to help the process of hair loss?

When a tooth begins to loosen, it causes discomfort. Many mothers and fathers, to help their child, resort to a proven remedy - tie a thread and pull to get a loose tooth. Dentists do not prohibit such methods, unless the child himself is afraid of pulling teeth in this way. However, it doesn't always help.

If a tooth has been loose for several weeks, causes discomfort, and does not fall out, then it is advisable to contact a pediatric dentist.

The opposite situation also happens: a baby tooth stands still and is not going to fall out, but a permanent tooth in the same place is already beginning to grow. In this case, it is also recommended to contact your dentist to remove the temporary tooth.

Getting used to brushing your teeth

Thus, neither early nor late change of teeth is considered a pathology. Deadlines vary from person to person. Sometimes it takes quite a long time for a molar to appear after a temporary tooth falls out, so moms and dads just need to be patient. If something bothers you, it is better to take a picture of the jaw to find out the reason for the delay.