Losing baby teeth - what to expect

Losing baby teeth is a huge milestone in a child’s life and many can’t wait for one to fall out so they can put it under their pillow for the tooth fairy.

Baby teeth have to fall out to make way for adult teeth and the process can last six or more years from start to finish.

Most children can’t wait to have a wobbly tooth, but there are some who can be quite worried about it. If your little one is concerned, let them know that it won’t hurt and there will only be a small amount of blood, if any.

They will usually fall out in the order in which they came in so you will notice that your little ones lower centre teeth will be the first to go.

Kids will lose their pearly whites at different ages – some as early as four and some as late as seven. Usually a tooth won’t fall out until the adult tooth pushes it, unless it is forced due to an accident. If this happens the dentist may put a spacer in place to prevent future spacing problems.

When your child has a wobbler, encourage them to gently wiggle it but remind them not to yank it out as it can damage the root underneath.

Your little one doesn’t have teeth at the back of their mouth but around the age of five or six you may notice they are complaining of a pain there. This is their six year molars coming in and a mild painkiller is usually sufficient to ease discomfort. When the new tooth comes down, you will notice that it is a lot bigger than the rest and tends to be less white.

Sometimes, although it is rare, new teeth may come down before the old ones are gone. This can create two rows of teeth and is often called shark’s teeth.

It is important that your child’s teeth are brushed on a regular basis and you will need to supervise until they are around eight. A pea-sized amount is sufficient and make sure you replace toothbrushes every three months to prevent infection.

Most kids will lose their last baby tooth around the age of 12 or 13 just as their 12 year molars start to come in.