Children have 20 baby teeth in a complete set. These smaller teeth, also called primary teeth, fill out the upper and lower jaws between infancy and about age 6, then gradually fall out over the next several years to make way for 32 permanent adult teeth.
The 20 Baby Teeth by Type
Those 20 teeth break down into three types, evenly split between the upper and lower jaws:
- 8 incisors: the four front teeth on top and four on the bottom, used for biting into food
- 4 canines: the pointed teeth next to the incisors (one on each side, top and bottom), used for tearing
- 8 molars: the wider, flatter teeth toward the back (two on each side, top and bottom), used for grinding
Notably, baby teeth do not include premolars or wisdom teeth. Those 12 additional teeth only appear in the permanent set, which is why adults end up with 32 teeth compared to a child’s 20.
When Baby Teeth Come In
Most babies get their first tooth between 5 and 9 months, typically one of the lower front teeth. The timeline varies quite a bit from child to child, but the general order follows a predictable pattern.
Upper front teeth usually appear around 8 to 12 months, followed by the teeth on either side of them (lateral incisors) between 10 and 15 months. The first molars show up around 10 to 16 months, canines between 16 and 20 months, and the second set of molars last, arriving between 20 and 30 months. By roughly age 3, most children have all 20 baby teeth in place.
When Baby Teeth Fall Out
Children typically start losing baby teeth around age 6, though it’s perfectly normal for this to begin up to a year later. The lower front teeth usually loosen first, mirroring the order they came in. By age 13, most children have lost all their baby teeth and have a full set of permanent teeth (minus wisdom teeth, which come later in the late teens or early twenties).
Why Baby Teeth Matter
It’s tempting to think of baby teeth as temporary placeholders that don’t need much attention, but they play a critical role in how permanent teeth develop. Each baby tooth holds space in the jaw for the adult tooth forming beneath it. If a baby tooth is lost too early from decay or injury, neighboring teeth can drift into the gap and block the permanent tooth from coming in straight. This is one of the most common causes of crowding that later requires orthodontic treatment.
Baby teeth also matter for everyday function. Children need them to chew food properly and to develop clear speech patterns during the years when language skills are rapidly forming.
Can Some Baby Teeth Be Missing?
A small number of children develop fewer than 20 baby teeth. Research on over 1,100 children found that about 0.9% were congenitally missing one or more primary teeth, with the upper and lower lateral incisors (the teeth flanking the front two) being the most commonly absent. This is uncommon enough that most parents will never encounter it, but a dentist can confirm the count with an exam or X-ray if you’re concerned.
Caring for Baby Teeth
Dental care should start before all 20 teeth have even arrived. Multiple national health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend a child’s first dental visit by age one.
For brushing at home, children under 3 should use a smear of fluoride toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice. From ages 3 to 6, a pea-sized amount is appropriate, and brushing should happen twice a day. Young children don’t have the coordination to brush well on their own, so parents typically need to do the brushing or at least follow up until around age 6 or 7.