When do milk teeth begin to fall out?

All parents go through a period when their baby’s teeth are changing. It is unlikely to be called the most enjoyable time for moms and dads. This is mainly due to the worries about their child.

However, most children tolerate teeth changing without any problems. Many of them even wait for this event to discuss with friends, they always know whose and which tooth fell out, how many milk teeth are left. Often, it is influenced by stories about the tooth fairy or a mouse, which must bring something in return for a lost tooth.

Despite that, adults should be aware of many nuances, in particular, the timing and the order of loss, as well as the basic rules of hygiene and oral care within this undoubtedly important time. In addition, sometimes the terms are violated, so you need to know about the causes of this phenomenon.

Why is this happening?

Of course, the reason for the loss of milk teeth is simple – they need to make room for the permanent ones, with which man will live the rest of time. However, the question arises naturally, why is this change necessary at all, and why don’t ones that are called permanent grow from the very beginning.

To answer this question, you need to know a little of anatomy and physiology. The matter is that by the time only milk is not enough for a child, and it begins to eat more solid foods (and this happens quite early – around six to nine months), the jaw is still very small. Gradually it begins to grow, increasing the interdental spaces.

Under the milk, the beginnings of permanent gradually begin to form. When they are activated and begin to grow, the roots of milk teeth dissolve, and they gradually fall out.

Useful information

Before we talk about the timing and the order of loss, we need to tell a little about milk teeth themselves. Since they have a lot of features, including during their loss.

• A complete set of the baby’s teeth is 20 pieces – 5 on each side of both jaws.
• Their names are the following if to start from the center – the central and lateral incisor, canine, first and second molars. The procedure is the same on both the upper and the lower jaw.
• Despite the fact that the permanent teeth are often called the root teeth, this is not entirely true. After all, milk teeth also have roots. Only they are shorter.
• The difference is not only in the roots but also in the structure. Temporary teeth have a smaller height, bluish-white color, not yellowish like permanent and enamel, which is almost two times thinner.
• Beneath them already from the birth, the rudiments of permanent teeth begin to develop. When the time comes, they begin to grow slowly, resulting in a gradual resorption of roots.
• The smaller the root becomes, the more the crown starts to become loose, as it starts simply nothing to hold.
• One of the most important functions of temporary teeth, except, of course, a straight line is a signal. That is, they point to permanent teeth, where they need to grow.
• If due to caries or trauma some of them had to be removed much earlier, the permanent one may be cut not properly. It is also associated with the root resorption. Exactly in this empty place, a new tooth begins to erupt.

Scheme

If the parents remember the order in which the first teeth were cut, then they will not have a problem determining the order of their loss. They are about the same. But in order to clearly imagine it, we need to talk in more details about each of them in relation to the others.

The process of tooth loss, as well as their growth takes place symmetrically. That is at about the same time on both sides of the jaw identical teeth begin to become loose. It should also be noted that sometimes there is no loosening at all.

Then the loss would still be in the correct order, but it would be a sudden both for a child and for parents.

The approximate scheme

To begin let’s answer not to the question “when” but “in what order”:

The process in most cases starts from the bottom. After this, it is repeated on the upper jaw.

• Lower jaw – central incisors.
• Upper jaw – central incisors.
• Then, the lower lateral incisors.
• The upper lateral incisors.

After the loss of incisors, the order of “freeing” of the jaws is changing.

• Upper small (or first) molars.
• The first lower molars.
• The upper canines.
• Lower canines.

The last step is the same as the first one – from the bottom upwards.

• Large (or second) lower molars.
• Upper large molars.

An actual process of change

Sometimes mom and dad are wondering whether all the first teeth will change. It is difficult to answer it. The answer will depend only on how to approach this problem.

First of all, it’s in the statement. For the “first” – is not always “milk.” If the answer to the question of whether all of the milk teeth fall out, then the answer is – yes. All twenty pieces. However, there is another aspect, which is almost never taken into account by concerned parents.

Among the moms, dads, grandparents, there is almost universally held belief that change of teeth begins with teeth loosening and falling out of milk teeth. However, this is not quite true. The fact is that till four – five years of a child a jaw grows quite strongly. Therefore, there appears a sufficient space for additional growth.

The number of permanent teeth – 32 pieces. Among them, there are 4 wisdom teeth or third molars. Aside from them, there are 28. Divide the “extra” eight to 4 (jaw and side), we get 2 extra teeth in each of their jaw-quarters. They are called premolars, and they are not in the composition of milk teeth. It is with a pair of premolars when the growth and replacement process begins.

Terms

Speaking of deadlines, it should be noted that only an approximate time can be given. This is because all the processes of growth and development in children depend on the individual factors of the body. So, when do baby’s teeth fall out?

However, if a four-year-old kid comes to you and says that its teeth loosen, it is better to take the time and go the pediatric dentist. After all, the child could hit and damage the root and caries could begin, which can also cause loss of deciduous milk teeth.

These factors must be necessarily excluded. Too early loss of milk teeth by unnatural causes can lead to the loss of the correct way of growth of the permanent teeth and they will grow crooked.

By the age of about 12-13 years, it all ends. In relation to the terms of the end of the process of growth, you can apply the same rule as for its start. One or two years is almost irrelevant.

The reasons for changing the dates

• Sex of the child.
• Genotype.
• Time (duration) of breastfeeding.
• The presence of adverse factors during the mother’s pregnancy, for example, toxicity.
• Child’s various infectious diseases at an early age.

If the delay is too great, it is possible to add not so innocuous factors. For example, it may be various endocrine disorders and abnormalities in the development that have not been previously seen by physicians.

In addition, often, rickets or chronic infectious disease, almost not manifesting itself can cause serious delays.

Change of front teeth

As can be seen from the exemplary scheme, located above the first to become loose and fall out are temporary front teeth. These include eight pieces, four on each jaw.

These are primarily the central incisors, which initially fall out from the bottom and then from the top. Age (again approximate) – 6-7 years. They gradually start to become loose in the average after the fifth year of life, and this process lasts for about two years. That is, four central teeth should fall for the year.

Next in line – lateral incisors. As in the case with the central, first go lower, then the upper. It happens in 7-8 years. About 6 years the roots are beginning to dissolve, resulting in loosening of up to 2 years.

Change of indigenous

• After the seventh year first molars on top begin to loosen, and then to eight – ten years to fall out. They are located just behind the incisors.
• Then comes the turn of the first lower molars. This occurs practically simultaneously with the upper teeth. Loosening here lasts longer – about 3 years.
• A year later, upper canines are replaced – till nine – eleven years of age.
• They are followed by the lower canines in the same period. As in the case of molars, canines loose for about three years, and the process starts after eight.
• The second lower molars are followed by loss of canines – in 11-13 years.
• The upper corner teeth – second molars usually fall out the latest. It will also be about 11 or 13 years.

What is needed to be done?

When a milk tooth is falling out you should not worry too much. However, you need to know a few rules, which are intended both for children and for adults.

• Refrain from eating during 2-3 hours.
• Exclude from the child’s diet too aggressive foods and products – sour, spicy, salty.
• If the wound is bleeding, it should be covered with a gauze for a few minutes.
• The wound must not always be touched with a tongue or with hands. This way you can get an infection.
• If there is pain or itching, you can use special gels, and it is better to consult a dentist.

The average rate is considered to be when the last milk tooth falls out till fourteen years of age. Therefore, the whole process of changing temporary teeth on a permanent may take about 10 years.