When do children lose their baby teeth?

Usually starting around age six, and finishing somewhere between 11 and 13, though the normal range is wide and early or late is rarely a problem in itself.

The usual sequence tends to mirror the order the teeth arrived:

Lower central incisors (bottom front) — around 6–7 years, typically first.

Upper central incisors — 6–7.

Lateral incisors — 7–8.

First molars — 9–11.

Canines — 9–12.

Second molars — 10–12, generally last.

How it works. The permanent tooth developing beneath triggers resorption of the baby tooth's root. The root gradually dissolves until the crown is held by very little and falls out — which is why a shed baby tooth has no root and looks like a small shell.

Things that surprise parents:

The first permanent molars arrive around age six without replacing anything. They appear behind the baby molars, so many parents assume they are baby teeth and are less careful about them. These are permanent teeth for life and are among the most cavity-prone, being deeply grooved and hard to clean.

"Shark teeth". Permanent lower incisors sometimes erupt behind the baby teeth before those have fallen out, producing two rows. This is common and usually resolves as the baby tooth loosens. Mention it at a dental check if it persists.

New adult teeth look yellower than baby teeth, which are unusually white. This is normal, not decay.

They also look too big for the face initially; the jaw grows into them.

Gaps between baby teeth are good. They indicate room for the larger permanent teeth; tightly packed baby teeth often predict crowding.

When to consult a dentist: a tooth lost very early through decay or injury, since the space can close and cause crowding; no loss by around age seven or eight; or pain and swelling.