Losing baby teeth is one of the most significant milestones in your child’s development. Although, it can be an unsettling experience to new parents when they see their child losing teeth all at once. However, this should be a cause of celebration because losing baby teeth opens the way for new ones which are permanent and robust. This article will discuss when you expect your kid to start losing teeth and the dental care techniques to instill in the years to come.
When do Baby Teeth Sprout, and When do They Fall Out
Children have different growth patterns, and each child will grow and lose teeth at their own time. Baby teeth are officially known as deciduous teeth. Your child will have a total of 20 milk teeth by the time they are three years of age. One of the frequently asked questions by new parents is when do kids start losing teeth?
This process of new teeth emerging and replacing falling milk teeth happens over several years. Most children start to lose their deciduous teeth at six years and finish the process at 12 years. Though, this is just the average age and varies significantly in different children. It is not abnormal to find 5 years old losing teeth.
The sprouting time of the baby teeth determines the time when your kid will grow permanent adult teeth. There are instances when your child will develop their first baby tooth as early as 3- 4 months. Thus there are high chances that this child’s first permanent teeth will grow before 4-5 years; hence you find your child losing teeth quickly.
Moreover, there are children whose first teeth don’t develop until they are almost one year old. In such a case, their permanent teeth will grow around 7-8 years.
How Many Deciduous Teeth do kids Lose
Your child’s first loose tooth is a significant milestone in their lives, and they are excited about it. At this stage, children are more curious, and they will ask you many questions that a parent should be well informed to answer. This group’s most frequently asked questions are; when do you lose baby teeth? Do molars fall out? How many baby teeth do you lose?
Primarily, human beings have 20 baby teeth in their initial stage of development and 32 adult teeth. We lose 20 milk teeth during our childhood that are later replaced by bigger, stronger, and more permanent teeth. These teeth are referred to as succedaneous or adult teeth.
Furthermore, adults have an addition of succedaneous 12 teeth that are not present when losing baby teeth. They are three sets of molars. This set of adult molars grow in the free gum space at the back of our mouths. However, as an adult, you may not see this space because teeth now occupy it, but you will see this gap if you look at your child.
While adults are expected to have 32 teeth at maturity, there are some exceptional cases. In some cases, our bodies produce fewer teeth and are referred to as congenitally missing teeth. Our genetic make-up determines whether we will have missing teeth. The process of losing baby teeth follows the following order.
Order of Baby Teeth Fallout
Losing baby teeth follows the same pattern they follow when sprouting. The first teeth your child will lose are the central incisors. Teeth loss usually occurs in pairs, and thus you should not be surprised when you see your child losing teeth quickly. These central incisors start to fall out in the bottom set, then followed by the upper set.
Lateral incisors, also referred to by many as the side teeth are the second set of teeth to be lost in this process. After all the front teeth have been out and replaced by new teeth, the second set of teeth you expect your child to lose are the bottom canines. Most parents ask, do molars fall out? Most children will lose their molars before their upper set of canines.
It’s normal to see kids losing teeth in slightly different orders. Some lose the upper canines after all the others have fallen out and replaced, and some lose the second set of molars last.
Steps to Take When Your Child Has Loose Primary Teeth
When your child is around the age of 6-7 years, the process of losing baby teeth is normal, and you should let it happen. You may find your child wiggling the loose tooth at this stage, and it is fine as it helps it come out fast. When it is ready, the tooth will fall out on its own.
However, there are cases where the wiggly tooth makes your child uncomfortable while eating or brushing. In such instances, you should squeeze it gently, and it will come out quickly. However, there are cases where you may find 5 years old losing teeth. This is an earlier than expected time, and the adult teeth may not be well developed. If you force the teeth to come out, there may be a problem as this may affect the position of the permanent tooth.
Instead, if you find a loose tooth in your underage child, you should take them to Victory Plaza Dental Group. Here they have the best kids dentist in North Hollywood. In addition, there are many cases of kids losing teeth accidentally or from decay. As a result, the new teeth may emerge crooked because of the limited space left by the primary tooth.
Oral Care Before and After Losing Baby Teeth
To avoid losing baby teeth prematurely, you must take care of your child’s oral health as a parent. It includes brushing and flossing regularly. You should help your child who is less than ten years to brush appropriately.
In addition, you should take your child for a regular dental checkup. Victory Plaza Dental Group has a friendly facility with sophisticated equipment and the best dentist in North Hollywood who will significantly assist and offer quality services.
Moreover, you may use sealant on your child’s molars. It is a plastic coating prescribed by dentists that prevent the trapping and accumulation of plaque in the pits of the teeth. They are effective in preventing cavity formation, especially in the molars. This process contains a condition where you find your child losing teeth quickly.
Diet also plays a significant role in taking care of your child’s oral health. You should minimize sugary food consumed by your child. Sugar tends to stick on the teeth and encourage the growth of bacteria, leading to cavities. Good oral health will help your child to have a smooth time when losing baby teeth.
Typically baby tooth comes out cleanly. It would be best if you rinsed your child’s mouth with clean water to stop excessive bleeding. In addition, you should hold a wet towel on the gap left by the tooth to ease the pain.
It is also essential to encourage your child to be brushing their teeth at least twice a day. Teach them to clean between the teeth with floss. Finally, limit your child’s sugar intake to protect the newly emerging teeth.
In case you notice something unusual with your child’s dental health when losing baby teeth, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Victory Plaza Dental Group for consultation. Here, your problem will be solved to your satisfaction.