The lower central incisors, the two front teeth on the bottom, are almost always the first baby teeth to fall out. This typically happens around age 6, though some children start closer to age 7. These same teeth were usually the first to come in during infancy, and baby teeth tend to fall out in roughly the same order they arrived.
The Usual Order of Baby Tooth Loss
Children have 20 baby teeth, and they shed them over a span of about six years. The general pattern moves from front to back, with lower teeth often falling out slightly before their upper counterparts. Here’s the typical sequence:
- Lower central incisors (ages 6–7): The two bottom front teeth, and the ones most children lose first.
- Upper central incisors (ages 6–7): The two top front teeth, usually following within a few months.
- Upper lateral incisors (ages 7–8): The teeth flanking the top front two.
- Lower lateral incisors (ages 7–8): The teeth flanking the bottom front two.
- Upper and lower first molars (ages 9–11): The first set of baby molars, farther back in the mouth.
- Lower canines (ages 9–12): The pointed teeth on the bottom.
- Upper canines and second molars (ages 10–12): Typically the last baby teeth to go.
By age 13, most children have a full set of 28 permanent teeth (wisdom teeth come later, if at all). The process feels slow at first, with a flurry of front teeth lost in first and second grade, then a quieter stretch before the molars and canines start loosening around fourth or fifth grade.
Why Baby Teeth Fall Out in This Order
Baby teeth don’t just loosen on their own. Each one falls out because a permanent tooth developing underneath gradually dissolves its roots, a process called root resorption. The developing permanent tooth and the tissue surrounding it release signaling molecules that activate specialized cells to break down the baby tooth’s root, using the same biological system your body uses to remodel bone. As the root shrinks, the baby tooth loses its anchor in the jawbone and becomes wiggly until it detaches.
Because the lower front permanent teeth tend to develop and push upward earliest, the lower front baby teeth are the first to have their roots dissolved. The sequence of loss essentially mirrors the sequence in which permanent teeth are ready to erupt.
The Six-Year Molar Confusion
Many parents notice a large tooth appearing in the back of their child’s mouth around age 6 and assume a baby tooth fell out to make room. That’s not what happens. The first permanent molars, often called “six-year molars,” erupt behind the last baby teeth rather than replacing them. They grow into empty space at the back of the jaw where no baby tooth existed before. No tooth falls out for them to arrive, which is why they sometimes go unnoticed until they’re fully in.
This matters because these molars are permanent from day one. They don’t get a second chance if decay sets in early.
When Tooth Loss Happens Too Early
Losing a baby tooth a few months ahead of schedule is normal. Losing one a year or more before its permanent replacement is ready can cause problems. The most common reason for premature loss is tooth decay, followed by dental injuries like falls or impacts during play.
Baby teeth do more than chew food. They hold space in the jaw for the permanent teeth developing below. When a baby tooth is lost too early, the neighboring teeth can drift into the gap, crowding out the permanent tooth that eventually needs to come through. This is especially true for baby molars, which hold space for premolars that may not arrive for several more years.
In these cases, a dentist may place a space maintainer, a small metal device that sits in the gap and keeps adjacent teeth from shifting until the permanent tooth is ready to erupt. It’s a simple, passive appliance that prevents alignment problems that would otherwise require more involved orthodontic treatment later. Space maintainers are most commonly used after early loss of baby molars, where the gap is large and the wait for the permanent tooth is long.
When Tooth Loss Seems Late
Some children don’t lose their first tooth until age 7, and that’s within the normal range. Children who got their baby teeth later in infancy often lose them later too. Girls tend to lose teeth slightly earlier than boys, on average.
A child who still hasn’t lost any teeth by age 8 may benefit from a dental X-ray to confirm that permanent teeth are developing normally underneath. In rare cases, a permanent tooth may be missing entirely (a condition called congenitally missing teeth), or it may be developing at an unusual angle that prevents it from pushing the baby tooth out. Both situations are manageable, but they’re easier to address when caught early.
What Loose Teeth Feel Like for Kids
A tooth that’s ready to come out will feel progressively looser over days or weeks. There’s usually minimal pain, though the gum tissue around it can feel sore or tender, especially while eating. Light wiggling with a clean finger or tongue is fine. Forcing a tooth out before it’s ready can tear the root prematurely and cause unnecessary bleeding or discomfort.
When a tooth does come out, some bleeding from the socket is normal and typically stops within 10 to 15 minutes with gentle pressure from a piece of gauze or a damp washcloth. The permanent tooth may already be visible as a white edge poking through the gum, or it may take a few weeks to appear. Sometimes the permanent tooth starts coming in behind the baby tooth before it falls out, creating a brief “shark tooth” appearance. This is common with the lower front teeth and usually resolves on its own once the baby tooth is out.