At what age do your children loose their baby teeth ?
Whether you believe in a tooth mouse or a tooth fairy, the magic truly begins when your child first approaches you with a tiny little wiggly milk tooth grinning up at you.
Hamish was five when his first tooth was wiggly and it took quite some time, a lot of convincing and a final yank before his little tooth lay in his hands, drips of blood in his mouth proof of the trauma of him eventually yanking it out.
We have since survived four front teeth lost and just this week another little tooth fell out.
He’s eight now, and even though I’ve raised a whole troop of kids, I couldn’t remember what the ” normal” age for teeth falling out was.
This prompted me to look it up.
At what age do children begin to lose their milk teeth ?
Your child will begin losing their baby or milk teeth around the age of six.
The first teeth to be lost are usually the lower and upper front teeth. This is then followed by the eruption of the first permanent molars at the back.
A child’s last baby tooth is usually lost around the age of 13 years.
A general timeline
The order and rough timeline for each type of permanent tooth is:
- First molars – between 6 and 7 years.
- Central incisors – between 6 and 8 years.
- Lateral incisors – between 7 and 8 years.
- Canine teeth – between 9 and 13 years.
- Premolars – between 9 and 13 years.
- Second molars – between 11 and 13 years.
How to help your child when they lose a tooth
For some children losing a tooth can be quite scarey. Start to talk to your child from about the age of four years, explaining that they will one day lose their teeth. Reassure them that this is a natural process
Encourage good hygiene early. This helps to set good routine for them to look after their adult teeth.
Use over-the-counter anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving medication to help relieve any loose tooth pain. Ask your dentist or pharmacist for recommendations on appropriate medication for your child.
Make use of the Tooth Fairy or tooth mouth. These myths have lasted a long time with good reason. The idea of getting some money or another reward in exchange for a tooth might soften the idea of tooth loss for your child.
As I write this, I’ve just added a R20 note into the shoe where Hamish had left his little milk tooth, knowing as I flushed the tooth down the toilet that a happy little boy will wake in the morning, excited to see how much his tooth was worth.
