A wiggly front tooth at breakfast is often the first sign that your child’s mouth is starting a six-year changeover from baby teeth to adult teeth.

So, when do kids start losing teeth? Most children lose their first baby tooth around age 6, starting with the lower front teeth, and lose the last ones around age 12, according to the Mayo Clinic and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

The timing still worries plenty of parents, especially when a classmate loses a tooth at 5.

In more than 15 years of caring for children, the question I hear most often starts the same way: “Should I be worried?”

In this post you will learn the typical order and ages for losing baby teeth, how to tell normal variation from a real concern, and what to do about loose, stubborn, or knocked-out teeth.

I’ll also share the questions worth asking at your child’s next dental checkup.

Understanding Baby Teeth and Tooth Loss

Children have 20 baby teeth, also called primary teeth, and the American Dental Association (ADA) notes that they start coming in at about 6 months of age.

These teeth hold space in the jaw for the 32 permanent teeth, which usually finish coming in by age 21.

As a permanent tooth grows beneath the gumline, it presses on the root of the baby tooth above it, and that root slowly dissolves in a process called resorption.

By the time a tooth feels loose, the AAP explains, only a small amount of tissue is holding it in place.

Baby teeth also guide the spacing of the teeth that follow, and our guide to baby teeth growing in crooked covers what is typical in younger children.

When Do Kids Start Losing Their Baby Teeth?

Most kids start losing their baby teeth around age 6, when the lower central incisors, the two bottom front teeth, become loose.

The Mayo Clinic notes that the process sometimes starts up to a year later, so a 7-year-old who still has every baby tooth is usually within the typical range.

Timing often mirrors when those baby teeth came in, since a pediatric dentist at Cleveland Clinic explains that early teethers often lose teeth earlier and late teethers later.

Is a 5 Year Old Losing Teeth Normal?

A 5-year-old losing teeth is usually on the early side of normal, especially when a lower front tooth loosens on its own. Cleveland Clinic’s dental team advises talking to a dentist only when baby teeth fall out before age 4.

A 4.5 year old losing teeth falls just past that marker, so mention it at the next dental visit. The dentist can confirm the tooth loosened naturally and not because of decay or a bump.

Which Teeth Do Kids Lose First?

Which teeth do kids lose first? In most children, it’s the two lower central incisors, followed by the two upper central incisors, which is why so many first-grade photos show a gap at the top front.

Baby teeth tend to fall out in roughly the order they came in, according to the Mayo Clinic, so the front teeth usually leave first, and the back molars leave last.

Baby Teeth Loss Timeline by Age

Losing baby teeth usually runs from about age 6 to age 12, with front teeth leaving first and back teeth last.

The chart below follows Cleveland Clinic’s tooth loss timeline, updated in 2026, and the ADA’s eruption charts show similar ranges.

Treat these ages as ranges rather than deadlines. Tooth loss often comes in waves, with a few teeth leaving close together and then a quiet stretch of several months, which Cleveland Clinic’s pediatric dentist describes as normal.

The Mayo Clinic places the first molars before the canines, so if your child’s canines and first molars trade places, that alone is not a concern.

Which Teeth Fall Out at Age 10?

Which teeth fall out at age 10? Around ages 9 to 11, most children lose their lower canines and their first baby molars, the wide chewing teeth closest to the canines.

These baby molars are replaced by premolars, which are smaller permanent teeth, rather than by new molars.

The 6-Year Molars Are New Teeth, Not Replacements

Around ages 6 to 7, permanent first molars usually come in behind the last baby molars without pushing any tooth out, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Because nothing falls out to announce them, they are easy to miss during brushing, and you can read more about when kids get molars if your child seems sore at the back of the mouth.

Once these molars are fully in, ask your child’s dentist whether sealants, a thin coating for the deep grooves of back teeth, make sense.

When Do Kids Stop Losing Teeth?

Most children lose their last baby teeth, usually the second molars or upper canines, between ages 10 and 12, and the AAP notes these are replaced by permanent teeth by about age 13.

The 12-year molars arrive around the same time, while wisdom teeth, if they come in, appear years later, and the ADA notes that all 32 permanent teeth have usually come in by age 21.

What Happens When a Baby Tooth Gets Loose?

A loose tooth gets looser over days or weeks, and most come out painlessly during meals or play, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Gentle wiggling with a clean finger or the tongue is fine once a tooth is already loose, because a baby tooth that stays too long can let the gum tighten around it.

Avoid forcing out a tooth that is still firm, since that can hurt and cause extra bleeding.

If a tooth is hanging by a thread and your child asks for help, the AAP suggests grasping it firmly with a tissue or gauze and removing it with a quick twist.

For minor bleeding afterward, have your child bite gently on clean gauze for a few minutes.

If the spot is sore, Cleveland Clinic notes that acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help. Check the product label or ask your pharmacist for the right dose for your child’s age and weight.

Is Early or Late Tooth Loss Normal?

Most early or late tooth loss falls within normal variation, but two age markers deserve attention.

Cleveland Clinic advises talking to a dentist if baby teeth fall out before age 4 or if a child hasn’t lost any teeth by age 8 or 9, and between those markers the main question is whether teeth loosen on their own.

Early loss before age 4 can follow tooth decay or an accident, and the Mayo Clinic explains that nearby teeth may then drift into the gap and crowd the permanent teeth.

A dentist may suggest a space maintainer, a small appliance that holds the gap open until the permanent tooth arrives.

A dentist may sometimes order X-rays or blood work to check for an underlying health issue, as Cleveland Clinic’s pediatric dentist describes, so keep your child’s pediatrician in the loop if that happens.

On the later side, a 7-year-old with no loose teeth is usually just running behind.

If nothing has loosened by 8 or 9, or teeth seem to be leaving far out of order, a dental X-ray can show whether the permanent teeth are developing beneath the gums.

What If a Permanent Tooth Comes in First?

Sometimes a permanent tooth starts coming in behind a baby tooth that hasn’t fallen out, leaving what looks like two rows of teeth.

Parents often call this “shark teeth,” and it happens when the new tooth erupts behind the baby tooth instead of fully dissolving its root.

In many cases, the baby tooth still loosens and falls out on its own, and the permanent tooth moves forward into place over time.

If the baby tooth stays firm and the new tooth isn’t shifting, a dentist may need to remove it to make room, as Cleveland Clinic’s pediatric dentist explains.

What to Do If a Tooth Is Knocked Out

A knocked-out baby tooth should not be put back in, according to the AAPD guide to tooth injuries, because replanting it can damage the permanent tooth developing underneath.

Rinse your child’s mouth with water, use a cold compress for swelling, and call the pediatric dentist.

A knocked-out permanent tooth needs a dentist right away, since fast action gives the best chance of saving it.

Hold it by the crown rather than the root, place it back in the socket if you can, or keep it in cold milk on the way to the dental office.

Any tooth injury from a fall or collision also calls for a check for head injury. Call 911 if your child loses consciousness, seems confused, or vomits repeatedly after the injury.

How Should Parents Care for Kids During Tooth Loss?

Your child’s routine doesn’t change much while teeth are falling out, but each new permanent tooth needs to last a lifetime.

Brush twice a day with a soft toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste, and plan to stay involved.

AAP clinical guidance says families should keep helping until a child shows the coordination to brush well alone.

That may not happen until age 8 or older, often around the time a child can tie their own shoes.

Help with daily flossing, and keep sugary snacks to mealtimes with water or white milk in between, as the Mayo Clinic recommends.

Regular dental visits let the dentist track how permanent teeth are coming in, and you can ask about a mouthguard if your child plays contact sports.

When Should You Call a Dentist?

Most tooth loss needs no urgent care, but these signs are worth a call to your child’s dentist:

• A baby tooth lost before age 4
• No loose teeth by age 8 or 9
• A tooth loosened or knocked out by a fall or injury, even a baby tooth
• Pain, swelling, or bleeding that doesn’t stop with gentle pressure
• A permanent tooth coming in behind a baby tooth that stays firm
• No permanent tooth showing up in a gap where a baby tooth was lost

If swelling spreads to the face or comes with a fever, call your child’s dentist or pediatrician the same day.

At the visit, ask whether the permanent teeth are developing on schedule, whether there is enough room for them, and whether your child needs sealants or a space maintainer.

Key Takeaway:

If you came here asking when do kids start losing teeth, the short answer is around age 6, but the pattern matters more than the exact birthday.

Teeth that loosen on their own, in roughly the expected order, usually point to healthy development.

The markers that call for a closer look are tooth loss before age 4, no loose teeth by 8 or 9, and any mouth injury.

As a next step, jot down which teeth your child has already lost and bring that list to the next dental checkup, so the dentist can compare it with the timeline above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Boys’ Teeth Fall Out Later Than Girls’?

Often slightly, yes. Several studies, including one in Clinical and Experimental Dental Research, found permanent teeth tend to come in a little earlier in girls, though second molars appeared earlier in boys.

Why Are Baby Teeth So White?

Baby teeth have less dentin, the yellowish layer under the enamel, so they look brighter. New permanent teeth have more dentin and can look yellow next to baby teeth, which is usually normal.

Does Teething Cause Fever?

Not a true fever. A 2016 review in Pediatrics found teething may raise temperature slightly, but a reading of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher points to illness, so call your pediatrician.