What's the normal timeline for losing baby teeth?

The timeline varies from child to child, but most kids start losing their baby teeth around 5 or 6 years old.

How do I know when my child needs to see a dentist?

If you notice any unusual changes in your child's teeth or gums, such as discoloration, swelling, or sensitivity, it's time to schedule an appointment.

What can I expect during the procedure?

The procedure is usually quick and painless, but your child might experience some discomfort after.

How long does it take for the permanent tooth to come in?

It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months for the permanent tooth to come in.

Are there any home remedies that can help with the process?

You can try giving your child a cold compress or a warm saltwater rinse to help soothe their gums and reduce discomfort.

What if my child experiences complications?

If your child experiences any unusual complications, you should contact their dentist or a pediatrician immediately.

How do I care for my child's teeth during this time?

Make sure your child is brushing their teeth regularly and visiting the dentist for regular check-ups.

Can I schedule appointments during school hours?

Yes, many dentists offer flexible scheduling, including appointments during school hours.

A Guide to Losing Baby Teeth

I always thought the worst thing that could happen to a milk tooth is either a bad knock or cavities. But my daughter's teeth were a different story. She never got cavities, even though she only brushed them occasionally. I was thrilled that she inherited her dad's teeth.

But things started to get tricky when her milk teeth started falling out and being replaced by permanent ones. I had no idea what the normal timeline was or what order they should come in. I just kind of winged it and hoped for the best.

I never really thought about how milk teeth get replaced by permanent ones. I just assumed it would happen naturally. A tooth would start wobbling, then it would fall out, and a new, beautiful, permanent tooth would grow in its place. Easy peasy.

I was also clueless about the age ranges for when this happens. I just looked around and saw that all the kids in daycare were losing their teeth around 5 or 6 years old, so I figured it would happen to my daughter too. But nothing. Just a steady growth of her jaw and more space between her teeth.

And then, just a week before she started first grade, she told me that one of her teeth was finally wobbling:

Extracting milk teeth

So, the night before her first day of school, it finally fell out with her help. I got a little teary-eyed and took a picture to commemorate the occasion:

Removing baby teeth

Yeah, I'd catch a glimpse of it every now and then, but not too often. Every month or so, I'd take her to the dentist just for a check-up because I was worried about cavities. And, funnily enough, that's the only tooth that fell out on its own. With all the others, we had to go to the dentist to get them removed.

Then, just a little while later, the second top front tooth started wobbling. It's been doing that for a week, a month, now it's been two months. The tooth is still wobbling, but it hasn't fallen out yet. She even tried to pull it out herself, but it wouldn't budge. She looked pretty comical with it, actually - she fell asleep in the car on the way to the dentist:

Removing baby teeth

They removed it for free at the hospital and it was a breeze. We went in, they gave her a quick shot, and it was out in seconds. They even gave her a little rinse and a tooth in a napkin as a keepsake. That was the first and only time it was that easy. My luck ran out after that.

And, yeah, I also missed the first tooth to come in. Remember, I was convinced that a tooth would wobble, fall out, and then a new one would grow in? And I not only missed the tooth, but I also scheduled a dental hygiene appointment for her. She's not great about brushing her teeth, so I wanted to get the plaque removed.

She sits down in the dentist's chair, the dentist looks at her teeth, and then asks me to come over. I walk over, thinking to myself, 'Okay, here we go - she's got cavities.' The dentist asks me to take a look at her bottom teeth.

I've been keeping an eye on this, and I noticed a few white spots on the inside of my mouth, near the central teeth, where my tongue is. At first, I thought it was just a case of gum disease. To be honest, my vision isn't great, and focusing on small details without my glasses is tough. So, I thought, 'Great, gum disease – that's a real fun one.' I asked my dentist what I could do to get rid of it quickly.

She just laughed and said there wasn't a quick fix for this one. It turns out, I have a tiny shark tooth – or rather, two rows of teeth. One set is milk teeth, and the other is permanent. They just decided to come in at their own pace, at awkward angles, and in a wonky position. The milk teeth, in particular, are stuck in place like they're made of stone.

She referred me to an orthodontist, which was a stroke of luck – this particular doctor only sees patients once a week, and she's not leaving her post anytime soon. She told me not to worry, that sometimes this happens, and that we just need to remove the milk teeth to make room for the rest. My tongue will help push them into place when I talk. We'll follow up with her in six months to see how things are going.

We took some X-rays to see if we could just pull them out with a pair of forceps or if we'd need to use a needle. Unfortunately, the roots are only partially dissolved, so we'd need to use a needle and some force. And, let me tell you, getting a needle in the front teeth is no fun.

That was the last straw for Dr. Christina Mikhailovna when it came to dealing with teeth. She finally relented and let me open my mouth again after the needle (under threat that she'd let the anesthesia wear off and I'd have to go through it all again). Two seconds later, she pulled out two more teeth from my hand.

I've gotta say, three teeth in one day is a lot to take in, especially when it comes to oral hygiene. Speaking of which, the tooth fairy's cash and my kid's savings were enough to buy her a new phone, which she's still rocking. Maybe it's time to upgrade that for her.

Meet the kid who's still rocking baby teeth, and why your little one might not need elastics.

After this tooth-filled adventure, I've been keeping a closer eye on my kid's teeth, shining a flashlight in her mouth to check for any movement. Even though the orthodontist and oral surgeon told me it's rare for two teeth to shift at once, I'm still a bit anxious. They said it's just a minor setback, and the other teeth will straighten out on their own. But still, I'm keeping a close eye on things.

Removing baby teeth

Yeah, her bottom teeth are still a bit wonky, and her top teeth were crooked from the start. Her bottom teeth came in almost simultaneously, and just like that, they were stuck in two rows. The baby teeth didn't budge at all, and the roots were only partially dissolved. Her top teeth came in the same way, in two rows, and the removal of the baby teeth didn't cause any movement at all, with partially dissolved roots:

Removing baby teeth

By the way, check out how she's biting down on her teeth in this photo. Yeah, they're a bit crooked, but the alignment is still relatively good when it comes to the opposing teeth:

Removing a stubborn baby tooth

I have to give props to my kid for being brave enough to get a baby tooth removed at the free clinic, no big deal:

Removing a stubborn baby tooth

And yeah, no big deal, it just started getting crowded in there after six months:

Removing a stubborn baby tooth

It wasn't until then that we were told to expand the jaw. By that point, we already had six permanent teeth, and the bite was getting pretty wonky. The doctor said it would be a two-step process: first, expand the jaw with plates, and then in 14 years, get braces.

We weren't able to take impressions for six months, I paid for the plates and that was it. I was already seeing my orthodontist for my own teeth and started asking why we couldn't just take digital impressions, given the kid's severe gag reflex. No, it's too expensive and not good for them. Only traditional impressions, period.

My orthodontist took one look at my kid and sounded the alarm because the state of the jaw and the teeth were rapidly deteriorating. She was already gnawing on the front bottom teeth right at the roots:

Removing baby teeth

So, I paid up and moved on from the pediatric orthodontist and started treatment with my own dentist. The goal was to expand my jaw and position my teeth in a way that would allow me to eat comfortably (functionality, not aesthetics, just being able to eat normally). Fast forward a couple of months, and here are my teeth and bite after expanding my jaw with elastics, twin blocks, and other tweaks:

Removing baby teeth

For those who don't get it, my teeth wouldn't have fit without expanding my jaw. By the way, I've already written about my treatment with elastics in this review about how my kids and I fixed our deep distal bite without surgery).

After a year with my daughter's help, we've managed to expand her jaw, get her teeth back in place, and establish a proper bite with six-point contact (where the opposing teeth meet). It's not perfect, and it's not something you'd see in an ad, but it's a real-life solution for eating without joint problems.

Removing baby teeth

Now, no one's waiting for unexpected tooth growth. That's because we have photos showing the teeth being removed in order:

https://irecommend.ru/content/mne-ispravili-glubokii-distalnyi-prikus-s-disfunktsiei-vnchs-docheri-s-glubokim-distalnym-pr

And not just that. They're even ready for the eight-year-olds. Everything's being removed according to plan, even with some persuasion. But it's better to remove a baby tooth in a planned manner, making room for a permanent one. So, this summer, we removed the fours in order. None of them are loose at all. Not even the ones above, where there are no roots left:

Removing baby teeth

It's a lot better than having crooked permanent teeth and then trying to fix them. No, it's better to remove the baby teeth in order and according to plan:

https://irecommend.ru/content/mne-ispravili-glubokii-distalnyi-prikus-s-disfunktsiei-vnchs-docheri-s-glubokim-distalnym-pr

For example, I had a planned extraction of a molar to make way for a canine, and yeah, it's basically like extracting a permanent tooth in terms of the sensation. And the teeth look pretty intimidating after:

Extraction of milk teeth

https://irecommend.ru/content/mne-ispravili-glubokii-distalnyi-prikus-s-disfunktsiei-vnchs-docheri-s-glubokim-distalnym-pr

Extraction of milk teeth

The little bit of bone left on the tooth after extraction isn't a big deal. It'll just regenerate on its own as the jawbone grows. And, fun fact, milk molars are actually bigger than their permanent counterparts. There's enough space for two permanent teeth after extraction. Check out the picture for yourself:

Removing Baby Teeth

By the way, I ended up at an orthodontist's appointment in a paid clinic - that's what's supposed to happen when you're getting baby teeth removed. I look at it, and there's our girl from the free clinic. She didn't recognize me. She immediately said that this time it's going to be a problem with the bite. I've been mad at her since my last treatment. I asked her, what's wrong?

They told me that the teeth aren't perfectly straight. It's a bite problem. When my kid closes their mouth, there's a deep distal bite, and the upper front teeth are covering the lower ones - it's a disaster! And there are those pesky eight-year molars too. We need to rush in and do four jaw operations. If we don't, they'll just come in and cause more problems. I mean, another word for that. But I don't know if I can use it on this platform.

I said that my husband and I both have those eight-year molars, and we're both living with them, treating them, and getting crowns. They told me that in my kid's case, there's no room - just look at the X-ray! So, we're waiting for the bite to change, removing those eight-year molars, and getting braces!!!! I asked why my kid needs braces and why we can't just expand the jaw right now to make room for the teeth, especially since they're still growing.

I guess I asked a pretty unexpected question. They told me again that those eight-year molars are unnecessary teeth (yeah, thanks for letting me know - I've got a bridge on them, and even with my crazy money and osteoporosis, and seeing top-end endocrinologists, it took me three years to get my bone healthy enough for an implant).

I have to admit, I was a bit hesitant to show where the misaligned bite was. The dentist was thrilled to head to the chair and suddenly went quiet. That's because my kid's bite was actually spot on from a functional standpoint, even if it looked a bit wonky and far back. So, I'd recommend getting a second opinion from a few dentists and not taking anyone's word for it without question.

The Bottom Line.

We still need to remove a few teeth to make room for the ones growing in next to them – two fours, three fives, and two cuspids. All of this will be done under sedation, thanks to the expanded jaw. And I feel really lucky that my kid's dentist is one who takes the time to explain things, show her what's going on, and talk her through the process. She's actually pretty understanding of what's happening and is willing to put up with it.

As it turns out, my kid only lost one tooth naturally, and the rest were removed. We still need to remove a few more, but we have the option to do it the easy way or the hard way. We chose to stick with our trusted orthodontist, who we trust 300%.

I'm hoping this review won't be of any use to anyone, and that your kids' teeth will magically sort themselves out.