Children have 20 baby (primary) teeth. The first usually appears around 6 months, the last by about age 3, and they fall out in roughly the same order they arrived, from about age 6 to age 12, as the 32 adult teeth push through beneath them. The timing varies by a year or more between perfectly healthy children, so the order matters more than the exact age.
Baby teeth eruption chart
| Tooth | Upper: comes in | Upper: falls out | Lower: comes in | Lower: falls out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central incisor (front middle) | 8 – 12 months | 6 – 7 years | 6 – 10 months | 6 – 7 years |
| Lateral incisor (next to middle) | 9 – 13 months | 7 – 8 years | 10 – 16 months | 7 – 8 years |
| Canine (cuspid, “eye tooth”) | 16 – 22 months | 10 – 12 years | 17 – 23 months | 9 – 12 years |
| First molar | 13 – 19 months | 9 – 11 years | 14 – 18 months | 9 – 11 years |
| Second molar | 25 – 33 months | 10 – 12 years | 23 – 31 months | 10 – 12 years |
Ranges are from the American Dental Association’s eruption charts. Girls tend to be slightly ahead of boys, and lower teeth generally come in before their upper counterparts.
The order teeth come in
Most children follow this sequence, give or take a swap:
1. Lower central incisors (bottom front two): 6 – 10 months 2. Upper central incisors (top front two): 8 – 12 months 3. Upper lateral incisors: 9 – 13 months 4. Lower lateral incisors: 10 – 16 months 5. First molars, upper and lower: 13 – 19 months 6. Canines, upper and lower: 16 – 23 months 7. Second molars, lower then upper: 23 – 33 months
By the third birthday, most children have all 20. A gap of a few months between a tooth and its mirror-image partner on the other side is ordinary; a gap of six months or more is worth mentioning to a dentist.
The order they fall out
Baby teeth loosen when the adult tooth developing underneath dissolves the baby tooth’s root. Because the front teeth arrived first, they leave first:
1. Lower central incisors: 6 – 7 years 2. Upper central incisors: 6 – 7 years 3. Lateral incisors, upper and lower: 7 – 8 years 4. First molars: 9 – 11 years 5. Canines: 9 – 12 years 6. Second molars: 10 – 12 years
While this is happening, the first adult molars (“six-year molars”) come in behind the baby molars at around age 6 without replacing anything. Parents often miss them because nothing falls out first. They are permanent and need the same care as the rest.
What’s normal, what isn’t
Normal:
- First tooth anywhere from 4 to 12 months
- Teeth arriving out of the usual order
- One side a few months ahead of the other
- Adult teeth coming in behind loose baby teeth (“shark teeth”), especially the lower front ones; the baby tooth almost always falls out on its own within a few weeks
- Adult front teeth that look large, yellowish, or slightly crooked compared to the baby teeth; they usually settle as the jaw grows
Worth a dentist visit:
- No teeth at all by 12 to 14 months
- A tooth missing more than 6 months after its partner on the other side arrived
- A baby tooth still firmly in place a year after its expected loss, especially if the adult tooth is visible elsewhere
- A baby tooth lost early (before age 4 to 5) through injury or decay, which can let neighbouring teeth drift into the space
- A “shark tooth” where the baby tooth has not loosened after two months
- Any tooth that is dark, chipped, or causing pain
Early or late timing on its own is rarely a problem. It runs in families, and premature babies are often on a later schedule.
Teething: what to expect as teeth come in
Teething symptoms usually start a few days before a tooth breaks through and settle once it does. Drooling, chewing on everything, fussiness, mildly swollen or tender gums, and disrupted sleep are typical. A slightly raised temperature can happen, but a true fever above 100.4°F (38°C), diarrhoea, or a rash are not caused by teething and should be treated as illness.
What helps: a cold (not frozen) teething ring or a clean, chilled washcloth to chew on, gentle pressure on the gums with a clean finger, and infant acetaminophen or ibuprofen (over 6 months) at the correct dose for a rough night. What to avoid: teething gels containing benzocaine, which the FDA warns against for children under 2, homeopathic teething tablets, and amber necklaces, which are a strangulation and choking risk with no evidence of benefit.
Why baby teeth matter
Because they fall out, parents sometimes assume baby teeth are disposable. They are not. They let a child chew and speak properly, they hold the space where the adult tooth will erupt, and their roots guide the adult tooth into position. A baby tooth lost early to decay lets the teeth on either side tip into the gap, and the adult tooth then comes in crowded or blocked. Untreated decay can also infect the developing adult tooth below it.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first dental visit by the first birthday or within six months of the first tooth, brushing twice a day with a smear of fluoride toothpaste from the first tooth, and a pea-sized amount from age 3. Our pediatric dentist guide covers what that first visit involves.
When to see a dentist
Book a visit if there are no teeth by 12 to 14 months; if a tooth is more than six months behind its partner; if a baby tooth is still solid a year past its expected loss; if a baby tooth is knocked out or lost to decay before age 5; if a “shark tooth” persists more than two months; or for any tooth that is discoloured, broken, or painful. Regardless of the chart, every child should see a dentist by their first birthday and then every six months.
Frequently asked questions
When do babies get their first tooth?
Usually between 6 and 10 months, most often a lower central incisor. Anywhere from 4 to 12 months is within the normal range. Rarely, a baby is born with a tooth or gets one in the first month.
In what order do baby teeth fall out?
Lower central incisors first around age 6, then upper central incisors, lateral incisors around 7 to 8, first molars around 9 to 11, canines around 9 to 12, and second molars last around 10 to 12.
Is it normal for a 5-year-old to lose a tooth?
Yes, if the tooth loosened naturally. The lower front teeth commonly go at 5 to 6. A tooth lost at 5 because of an injury or decay is a different matter and should be checked, because the space may need holding.
What if an adult tooth comes in behind a baby tooth?
This is common with the lower front teeth. The baby tooth usually falls out within a few weeks on its own, and the adult tooth moves forward with tongue pressure. If the baby tooth is still solid after two months, a dentist may remove it.
Do all 20 baby teeth get replaced?
Yes. The 20 baby teeth are replaced by 20 adult teeth in the same positions, and 12 more adult molars (including wisdom teeth) come in behind them without replacing anything, for 32 in total.
