When Do Baby Teeth Fall Out? Your Complete Timeline

Loose teeth are an exciting milestone for kids -- and a common source of questions for parents. When should it start? What order do they fall out? When should you worry? Here is the full timeline.

The typical timeline

Most children lose their first baby tooth around age 6, usually a lower front tooth. The upper front teeth follow shortly after. The process continues gradually, with the last baby teeth (usually the back molars) falling out around ages 11-12. By age 13, most children have a full set of 28 permanent teeth (wisdom teeth come later).

What is normal and what is not

Some children start losing teeth as early as 4 or as late as 8. Both are generally fine. What matters more is the pattern -- teeth usually fall out in roughly the same order they came in. A tooth that has been loose for months without falling out, a permanent tooth coming in behind a baby tooth (shark teeth), or losing teeth from injury rather than natural loosening are all reasons to schedule a visit.

Caring for the gap

When a tooth falls out, have your child bite on a clean gauze pad if there is bleeding. The new tooth usually comes in within a few weeks to months. Keep the area clean with gentle brushing. If the gap is from a premature loss (cavity, injury), Dr. Sravanthi may recommend a space maintainer to hold room for the permanent tooth.