When Do Kids Start Losing Teeth? What’s Normal, What’s Not

Most kids start losing baby teeth during the early elementary years. While there is a general timeline, the exact timing can vary from child to child. Knowing what is typical can help parents understand how tooth loss fits into normal dental development.

We care for growing smiles in Frisco, McKinney, and Prosper, TX with gentle, kid-focused dental care.

When Kids Typically Start Losing Teeth

Most children begin losing baby teeth around age six, though timing can vary. Some kids start a little earlier, while others take more time. Genetics, overall health, and dental development all influence when tooth loss begins.

In most cases, baby teeth loosen and fall out in a predictable order as permanent teeth move into position beneath the gums.

Tooth loss usually follows this general sequence:

• Ages 6–7: Lower and upper front teeth (central incisors)
• Ages 7–8: Side front teeth (lateral incisors)
• Ages 9–12: Canines and first molars
• Ages 10–12: Second molars

By age 12 or 13, most children have a full set of permanent teeth, excluding wisdom teeth, which develop later in the teen years.

Factors That Affect Tooth Loss

You may notice your child’s friends are losing teeth before them. Tooth loss does not follow a single schedule, and timing can vary from one child to the next.

A few factors can influence when baby teeth begin to loosen:

• Family patterns: The timing of tooth loss often follows a similar pattern within families.
• Dental decay or infection: Damage to a baby tooth can cause it to loosen earlier than expected.
• Position of adult teeth: Permanent teeth that develop sooner or apply pressure earlier can cause baby teeth to loosen earlier.
• Dental crowding or spacing: Limited space or crowded teeth can delay loosening in some cases.

Regular dental checkups allow your child’s dentist to monitor these changes over time and confirm that tooth loss and adult tooth eruption are progressing as expected.

When Baby Teeth Are Lost Too Early

Losing a baby tooth earlier than expected, typically before age four or five, can affect how permanent teeth come in. Baby teeth help hold space in the jaw, guiding adult teeth into position as they develop. When that space is lost too soon, nearby teeth may shift into the open area. This can make it harder for permanent teeth to erupt in the right place.

Early tooth loss may lead to:

• Crowding as adult teeth come in
• Shifting of nearby teeth
• Changes in bite alignment

Early loss most often occurs due to decay, injury, or infection rather than natural loosening.

How We Treat Early Tooth Loss

When a child loses a tooth too soon, our focus is on protecting long-term development rather than replacing the tooth cosmetically.

In many cases, a space maintainer is used to hold the open space until the permanent tooth is ready to come in. This helps prevent nearby teeth from shifting and supports proper alignment as adult teeth develop.

The type of space maintainer depends on the child’s age, which tooth was lost, and how soon the permanent tooth is expected to erupt. Regular dental checkups allow us to monitor spacing and remove the appliance at the right time.

Supporting Growing Smiles in McKinney, TX

Tooth loss marks an important transition in your child’s dental development. Regular checkups help confirm that adult teeth are coming in on schedule and in the right positions.

To book an appointment at our pediatric dental office in McKinney, TX, call (214) 436-5555, request an appointment online or visit us at 5323 W University Dr #100, McKinney, Texas.

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Lonestar Kid’s Dentistry in Frisco, TX

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