Tooth fairies everywhere may be breathing a sigh of relief that kids only have 20 baby teeth. The tooth fairies could also be less stressed to know that all 20 teeth are not destined to naturally fall out all at once. Baby teeth instead naturally fall out following a schedule that spans several years.
Gaining Baby Teeth
Your kid's mouth will eventually end up with 10 top and 10 bottom baby teeth, also called primary teeth, Kids Health points out. The first baby teeth start to appear between 6 and 12 months of age. A full set of baby teeth are usually in place by the time a child reaches 3 years old.
Losing Baby Teeth
Baby teeth start falling out naturally when a child hits about 6 years old, Kids Health says. The roots on the baby teeth start to dissolve, causing the teeth to loosen and eventually fall loose. Although the top of the tooth comes out, the roots eventually dissolve completely, leaving a gap and open area for the permanent teeth to break through the gum line and line up properly.
Teeth Types
Several different types of teeth make up a full set, Kids Health says. Front and center are the thin, square incisors, with four on the top and four on the bottom jaw. Canines are the pointy teeth on either side of the incisors, with two on the top and two on the bottom jaw. Premolars are right behind the canines, again with two on the top and two on the bottom. These are followed by the back teeth, or molars, for a total of 12 molars in all. The far back set of molars are the wisdom teeth, of which there are two on the top and two on the bottom jaw.
Permanent Teeth
Don't expect your child's mouth to suddenly erupt with a full set of permanent teeth in a jiffy, Kids Health cautions. Permanent teeth take about 15 years to fully fill your child's mouth. The front teeth and first molars are the first to be replaced, a process that can last to age 9. Next up are the pointy canine teeth and first and second premolars through age 12. Second molars follow through age 13. Third molars, also known as wisdom teeth, are the last to erupt, usually coming in from age 17 to 21. Not including the four late-blooming wisdom teeth, most kids have the other 28 permanent teeth by the time they reach 13.
Considerations
Just because your child eventually loses his baby teeth it does not mean they can be ignored, Healthy Children warns. A rotting baby tooth can cause damage to the permanent teeth beneath and open the door for future problems. Some kids also lose their baby teeth earlier than the typical age of 6 due to injuries or other unnatural causes. Kids Health recommends a trip to the dentist to assess the situation, help prevent infection and insert a spacer if necessary to keep the gap open for a permanent tooth to emerge.
