Your child’s teeth – When they come in and when they fall out

Baby teeth and permanent teeth follow a set order of development. Children can start to lose their baby teeth at sometime around 5 or 6 years old, but don’t be alarmed if they get wobbly before, even aged 4, as every child is different and some may start earlier or later. Parents should follow eruption patterns and if a child is late by more than 6 months, then consult a dentist.

Teeth vary in size, shape and their location in the jaws. These differences enable teeth to work together to help you chew, speak and smile. They also help give your face its shape and form. At birth people usually have 20 baby (primary) teeth, which start to come in (erupt) at about 6 months of age. They fall out (shed) at various times throughout childhood. By age 21, all 32 of the permanent teeth have usually erupted.