As an East Orlando kids orthodontist, Dr. Taddeo is often asked by parents what is normal when it comes to kids losing their primary or baby teeth. Many parents wonder when the first tooth will be lost or if there’s a predictable order. There’s actually a varying range of normal when it comes to losing baby teeth. While most kids lose their first tooth at the age of five or six, some kids start as young as four, with others not starting until the age of seven.
What To Expect When Your Baby’s Teeth Fall Out
You don’t have to worry about when your child will start losing his or her teeth as he/she will probably tell you when a tooth feels loose. Most kids lose their first tooth when they’re in kindergarten or first grade, at the age of six or seven. Once your child starts losing teeth, you may notice that they come out in roughly the same order they came in. For example, the bottom center teeth are often the first to come in and the first to fall out.
It’s A Natural Process
You may be relieved to know that you usually don’t have to intervene and pull out a loose baby tooth. That’s because these teeth tend to just come out on their own when kids are eating or wiggling them. However, if a baby tooth is preventing an adult tooth from coming in, you may have to step in to help so the baby tooth doesn’t damage the adult tooth. Just wash your hands well and use a piece of clean gauze to grasp the tooth and wiggle it out. If you’re too squeamish to remove a baby tooth, your child’s school nurse might be happy to help.
Once your child starts losing teeth, a flurry of activity will be going on between the ages of six and eight as kids normally lose teeth in rapid succession. By the time your child is ten years old, he or she should have lost all the primary teeth. During the years when baby teeth come out, some kids stop losing teeth for several months, which can indicate a problem. Some of the possibilities include missing teeth or an underlying adult tooth that’s crooked and unable to push the baby tooth out. These are the types of issues your orthodontist will look for during your child’s first orthodontic evaluation.
See Your Children’s Orthodontist In East Orlando & Avalon Park
It’s important to have your child undergo a thorough orthodontic evaluation by the age of seven. This is when an orthodontist like Dr.Taddeo can detect any developing problems like missing, crooked, or crowded teeth. Even if a problem isn’t found, this early visit will give you the peace of mind knowing that your child will have a straight and healthy smile to enjoy for the rest of his or her life! To set up your child’s first orthodontic visit, just give us a call at (407) 482-3700 or request an appointment online. We look forward to seeing you and your child soon!