The moment your child’s teeth start coming in is an exciting moment indeed. While their teeth develop, they might begin feeling different sensations such as sensitivity, pain, or tingling. Your child may have questions about their teeth as they wait for all their baby teeth to come in (and later fall out).
At Glendora Family Dentistry, we like to celebrate the tradition of inviting the Tooth Fairy to pick up your child’s teeth once they fall out and replacing them with a coin while they sleep. As a parent, you are likely looking forward to these fun moments as well. But when will this happen? At what age can you expect your child to start losing teeth?
Let’s find out more!
The Timeline of Dental Development
A study performed by the American Dental Association set the standard for the appearance of baby teeth starting at six months old. However, the mouth and teeth begin developing in utero before a child is even born. By the time your child is six months old, the first baby teeth will erupt.
In most cases, by the time a child is three years old, they will have all of their 20 primary teeth grown in. Keep in mind that this can vary slightly per child, and yours may see their teeth grow at their own pace.
Symptoms of Growing Teeth
Between six months and three years of age, your child may experience some growing pains as the primary teeth start to erupt. Some of these growing pains can include:
- Sore and tender gums
- Pain where the teeth are growing in
- Throbbing or consistent pain
If your young one is experiencing trouble or discomfort as their teeth are growing in, you can use a wet gauze pad and very gently rub their gums. Doing this can provide some relief throughout the process.
If the symptoms seem exacerbated, or if your child is having a particularly difficult time dealing with growing teeth, you should reach out to your family dentist for an appointment.
When Do Baby Teeth Fall Out?
In general, for every six months of your child’s life, about four of their teeth will erupt until about three years of age. As they grow older, the rate at which these primary teeth fall out and the secondary teeth erupt can vary.
A detailed chart on WebMD shows that the first teeth to fall out are usually the central incisors, both on the upper and lower teeth. These can fall out when your child is 6-7 years of age. The lateral incisors will fall out a year after that, then the canines and molars follow when the child is between 9-12 years of age.
By age 12, your child should see the completion of the tooth eruption and secondary teeth growing process. If there are any problems or complications, it’s essential to seek professional dental care before the symptoms lead to more serious issues with oral health.
When to Start Taking Your Child to the Dentist
Should your children be regularly visiting the dentist throughout this initial tooth growth process? The answer is a resounding yes! Not only is it helpful to check up on the health of your child’s teeth, but it is also important to start teaching them good dental habits as early as possible. That way, your child will be able to take control of the growth process and make sure that everything is proceeding normally.
Celebrate Your Child’s New Teeth Today!
Going through a growth process and losing teeth is a sort of rite of passage in our society. It can be a fun way to educate and bond with your child through the development process. They will be excited to grow up and earn some gifts from the benevolent Tooth Fairy! Our Glendora Family Dentistry pros would be happy to help you and your child throughout the process, and to answer any questions or concerns you may have about their oral health.
For more information, contact us online or give us a call at (626) 427-6236 to schedule a consultation!
