Dental Growth Timeline (Silly Tricks To Lose Baby Teeth)

For many of us, it’s been so long since we had baby teeth, it’s hard to remember what it was like losing them. For teens, perhaps the memory is too recent. We all grew up with different tips and tricks to get rid of those pesky baby teeth causing us pain and irritation, but what is always interesting to learn is that other people grew up with equally crazy ways to lose their baby teeth. Carolina Dental Choice has certainly heard it’s fair share of stories over the years, and while we don’t recommend DIY teeth pulling methods, they’re worth a laugh to reminisce on. We also recommend learning more about what to expect when it comes to losing those baby teeth.

Losing Teeth: A Right of Passage for Children Everywhere

“My tooth is loose!”

After surviving the process of baby teeth coming in, hearing a child yell in excitement about their first loose tooth can be exciting and potentially terrifying all over again. Will they cry as much as they did losing teeth as they did when teeth were entering their mouth? Will you be responsible for showing them how to yank the tooth out? What if you’re afraid of blood?

Deep breath! Losing teeth is a huge milestone in your child’s life, and it should be exciting for parents to see how their children are growing and maturing. Modeling for your kid that losing a teeth isn’t all that scary is super important, and your child’s dentist should assure them of that too. For some kids, the anticipation of the tooth fairy visiting is worth a little bit of pain, and for others, taking the first step to becoming a big kid is too wonderful to be distracted by the irritation of a loose tooth. 

Did you know…?

Did you know that the process of children gaining a fully matured set of teeth is actually much longer and more complex than you might have though?

A child’s first set of baby teeth usually come in by age 3, and actually tend to fall out in the same order that they entered.  Their baby teeth grow and develop, until eventually, the permanent teeth start to push the baby teeth out; this process continues until their final molars are in. For some, the final dental set is complete when their wisdom teeth come in at around ages 17-21 years old, while for others, they may never have their wisdom teeth grow in, and therefore never have a full set of teeth. It’s not a big deal either way! Everyone has unique teeth, and the best way to understand your dental set is regular visits to the dentists for check-ups.

Breaking It Down: The Tooth Timeline

1. Teething Begins – 4 to 7 Months Old

If you’ve ever watched a 6 month old for more than a few minutes, you might witness the frustration of a mother desperately trying to keep random items out of their mouth like a teething puppy. The truth is, that’s a pretty close comparison. Small children are always chewing and putting pressure on their gums in a process called teething. Their baby teeth are starting to come through their gums, and chewing helps children relieve their gums from the tension and pain of the teething process. It’s normal for your baby’s gums to be swollen and red during this process.

The two bottom center teeth, known as the lower central incisors, are normally the first to appear. Don’t forget to grab your camera for the first tooth appearance!

2. Upper Teeth Grow – 8 to 12 months

There’s not a moment of rest in a baby’s mouth during their first few years of life. At this point, the top two center teeth, known as the upper central incisors, start to come in.

3. First Molars – 1 to 1.5 years of age

The first set of molars begin to come in on both the top and bottom. Don’t be surprised if your child refuses to eat or drink because their mouth hurts; these are the teeth used for grinding food. Did you know that you should take your child to the dentist either by 1 year of age or at the appearance of a tooth?

4. Canine Teeth Erupt – 1.5 to 2 years of age

The side teeth with pointed tips that we pretend to be vampires with, known as the canine or cuspid teeth, will begin to come through on the top and bottom. You’re probably a professional teething-handler at this point, but frozen foods definitely come in handy for those painful canines.

5. Second Molars – 2 to 2.5 years of age

The bottom second molars appear first, followed soon enough by the top second molars.

6. 20 Baby Teeth – Age 3

Over the first three years of a child’s life, twenty baby teeth will come in and your child should have a full set of teeth. Your child is ready for a full dental cleaning!

7. Jaw and Facial Bones Grow – 4 years of age

Jaw and Facial Bones will grow, creating more space for permanent teeth to emerge, and for your child to start to lose some of their babyish features.

8. Children Begin to Lose Teeth – 4-8 years of age

The age is different for everyone, but on average, somewhere between 4-8 years of age, your child will begin to lose his or her teeth. Permanent teeth are coming up through the gums and beginning to emerge, pushing out baby teeth. Children actually lose their teeth in the same order they came in; this means that the bottom center teeth, followed by the top center teeth, will be the first to go.

9. Losing Molars – 9 to 12 years of age

The final teeth to endure losing are your molars. Molars typically come out when children are 9-12 years old. At least kids are also professionals by this point, and can’t wait to see their permanent smile!

10. 28 Permanent Teeth – 12 years of age

Around 12 years old, your child will usually have lost all of his or her baby teeth and earned all 28 permanent teeth. This is common time for many children to receive braces to correct their smiles if the permanent teeth didn’t have quite enough room to come in or perhaps came in crooked.

11. Wisdom Teeth – 17 to 21 years of age

The last molars, or wisdom teeth, take time to grow in. Some people never have their wisdom teeth come in; it’s nothing to be concerned about though, as most people whose wisdom teeth do emerge end up having to be taken out anyways. These four molars should come out between ages 17 to 21.

DO NOT TRY AT HOME: Silly Tricks to Lose Baby Teeth!

Kids and parents both can be over eager to lose their baby teeth. The truth is, however, that baby teeth will fall out naturally, and truly do not need to be forced out. When a baby tooth starts to become loose, it is typically because a permanent tooth is pushing out of the gums. The roots holding onto the baby tooth eventually disintegrate and loosen, letting the tooth fall out and make way for the permanent tooth.

Do not force a baby tooth out. Trying to pull out a tooth before it is ready can cause the roots of the tooth to become infected. Visit a dentist at Carolina Dental Choice if the tooth needs to be removed, or if you want to discuss with your dentist what the best option is for the tooth. Kids should start to lose their teeth from 4-8 years of age; if a child loses a tooth before age 4, see your dentist. Dentists should consult children who have lost teeth to dental accidents, or that are losing teeth early in case of dental diseases (more rare). If a child has not begun losing teeth by age 8, you should also consult your dentist.

1.) The Classic: Tying Your Loose Tooth to a Doorknob

If you’re cringing as you read this method, we are too. With a little dental floss tied around the tooth and the other end to the doorknob, you then have someone slam the door. The tooth should go flying.

2.) The Stairwell: Tying Your Loose Tooth to Heavy Object

Similar to the doorknob trick, this is a solo trick for when you’re standing on a stairwell with your loose tooth tied to something heavy, like a toaster. Let go of the toaster, and the tooth is supposed to come out!

3.) Man’s Best Friend: Loose Tooth + Canine Companion

Call over your excited dog, tie your tooth to his collar, and throw him a treat a few feet away! When the dog bolts, he should pull out your tooth.

We don’t recommend any of the above strategies for losing baby teeth; they should fall out naturally in their own time, without any unnecessary pain or dental trauma. If you want to know more about maturing teeth, Carolina Dental Choice is here for all stages of your child’s development. Schedule an appointment today at (704) 759-0908 to get your child’s teeth examined and make sure your teeth on the right path to a mature, healthy smile.