Baby teeth typically start falling out around age 6 and continue through age 12. The process follows a predictable pattern: the first teeth to come in are usually the first to go, starting with the lower front teeth. Here’s what to expect at each stage.
The Complete Timeline, Tooth by Tooth
Children lose 20 baby teeth over roughly six years. The sequence mirrors the order the teeth originally came in, starting at the front of the mouth and working back.
The lower and upper central incisors (the two front teeth on each jaw) fall out first, between ages 6 and 7. The lateral incisors, the teeth on either side of those, follow at ages 7 to 8. After that, there’s often a gap of a year or two before the next wave.
The first molars shed between ages 9 and 11, and the canines (the pointed teeth) and second molars come out last, between ages 10 and 12. Upper and lower teeth of the same type tend to fall out around the same time, though lower teeth sometimes lead by a few months.
- Ages 6–7: Central incisors (front teeth)
- Ages 7–8: Lateral incisors
- Ages 9–11: First molars
- Ages 9–12: Canines
- Ages 10–12: Second molars
Most children have lost all their baby teeth by age 12 or 13. By age 21, all 32 permanent teeth, including wisdom teeth, have usually come in.
Why Baby Teeth Fall Out
Baby teeth don’t just loosen on their own. The process starts when a permanent tooth developing in the jawbone begins pushing toward the surface. Specialized cells break down the root of the baby tooth above it, dissolving it gradually from the bottom up. This root-dissolving process uses the same biological system the body uses to remodel bone throughout life. By the time a baby tooth feels wiggly, most of its root is already gone, which is why losing a baby tooth usually involves very little pain or bleeding. The permanent tooth then moves into the newly opened space.
When a Tooth Falls Out Too Early
Losing a baby tooth ahead of schedule, whether from injury, decay, or infection, can cause problems for the teeth still developing underneath. Baby teeth serve as natural placeholders. Without them, neighboring teeth can drift into the empty space, leading to crowding, misalignment, or the permanent tooth erupting in the wrong position.
If your child loses a baby molar more than a year before the permanent tooth is expected, a dentist may recommend a space maintainer. This is a small device that holds the gap open until the adult tooth is ready to come through. It helps prevent bite problems like crossbite, excessive overbite, and poor alignment of the back teeth.
When Baby Teeth Don’t Fall Out
Some children, and even adults, retain baby teeth well past the expected timeline. The most common reason is that the permanent tooth that should replace it simply never developed. This condition, called tooth agenesis, means there’s no adult tooth pushing upward to dissolve the baby tooth’s root, so the baby tooth stays put.
Other causes include impaction, where a permanent tooth gets stuck in the bone or gum tissue and never emerges, and ectopic eruption, where a permanent tooth drifts off course and comes in at the wrong angle or in the wrong spot. In these cases, the baby tooth may remain stable for years or even decades. Treatment depends on the health of the retained tooth and the position of any permanent teeth still in the jaw.
Wisdom Teeth: The Final Stage
Wisdom teeth are the last to arrive, typically breaking through around ages 17 to 18, though the timing varies widely. Some people see them as early as 15, others not until their mid-20s. Women tend to get them about 7 months earlier than men. These third molars don’t replace baby teeth since there are no baby teeth that far back in the jaw. They’re simply additional adult teeth that emerge if there’s room.
Losing Permanent Teeth as an Adult
Once all 32 permanent teeth are in, there’s no biological process designed to replace them. Any tooth loss from that point forward is the result of gum disease, decay, injury, or other dental conditions.
Adults between ages 20 and 64 have an average of 25.5 remaining teeth out of a possible 32, according to data from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. The numbers drop steadily with age: adults aged 20 to 34 average 27 teeth, while those aged 50 to 64 average 23.4. Among adults 50 to 64, about 5.6% have lost all of their natural teeth. The primary drivers are gum disease and untreated cavities, both of which are largely preventable with routine care.