When do baby teeth come in and fall out?
Most babies get their first tooth, usually a lower front tooth, at around six to ten months, and all 20 baby teeth are typically in by about two and a half to three years. They fall out in roughly the same order, from the lower front teeth at six to seven years to the canines and back molars at ten to twelve. At Creative Arts in Dubai, children's check-ups include this timing.
Who treats you here Dr. Duaa Ameen General Dentist · Dr. Julia General Dentist
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Baby teeth chart: when does each tooth come in and fall out?
Typical age ranges from the American Dental Association's eruption chart. Many healthy children are a few months either side of these figures.
| Baby tooth | Upper: comes in | Upper: falls out | Lower: comes in | Lower: falls out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central incisor (front tooth) | 8–12 months | 6–7 years | 6–10 months | 6–7 years |
| Lateral incisor (beside the front tooth) | 9–13 months | 7–8 years | 10–16 months | 7–8 years |
| Canine (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 |
Each row covers two teeth in each jaw, one on the left and one on the right, which makes 20 baby teeth in total: eight incisors, four canines and eight molars.
In what order do baby teeth usually come in?
The usual sequence is: lower front teeth first, then the upper front teeth, then the teeth beside them, then the first molars, then the canines, and finally the second molars at the back. Notice that the first molars normally arrive before the canines, so for a few months many toddlers have a gap between their front teeth and their back teeth. That gap is expected and fills in when the canines come through.
Teeth often appear in pairs, one on each side, within a few weeks of each other. Gaps between baby front teeth are also normal and are actually helpful: adult teeth are wider, and spacing in the baby set leaves room for them later.
The baby set has no premolars. The adult premolars that come later grow into the places held by the baby molars, which is one reason a baby molar lost early to decay can matter for years. Our guide to teething symptoms covers what babies go through while all this is happening.
When do adult teeth come in?
Typical eruption ages for permanent teeth, again from the ADA chart. Upper and lower teeth are shown separately where they differ.
| Adult tooth | Usually comes in | What it replaces |
|---|---|---|
| First molars (the six-year molars) | 6–7 years | Nothing: they come in behind the last baby molar |
| Central incisors | Lower 6–7 years; upper 7–8 years | The baby front teeth |
| Lateral incisors | Lower 7–8 years; upper 8–9 years | The baby lateral incisors |
| Canines | Lower 9–10 years; upper 11–12 years | The baby canines |
| First premolars | Upper 10–11 years; lower 10–12 years | The first baby molars |
| Second premolars | Upper 10–12 years; lower 11–12 years | The second baby molars |
| Second molars (the twelve-year molars) | Lower 11–13 years; upper 12–13 years | Nothing: they come in behind the first molars |
| Third molars (wisdom teeth) | 17–21 years, if they come through | Nothing: they come in at the very back |
A full adult set is 32 teeth including wisdom teeth. Between about six and twelve, children have a mix of baby and adult teeth, which is why their smile can look uneven for a while.
The six-year molar is easy to miss
The first adult molars push through behind the baby molars, without any baby tooth falling out first, so many parents assume they are baby teeth. They are permanent, they have deep grooves that trap food, and they are often brushed poorly because they sit so far back. Ask at your child's check-up whether fissure sealants would help protect them.
What if my child's teeth do not match the chart?
The ages above are averages, not deadlines. A first tooth at four months and a first tooth at fourteen months can both be normal, and shedding varies just as much. What matters more than the exact month is the overall pattern: whether teeth come in and fall out roughly in sequence, and roughly at the same time on the left and right.
Some differences are worth mentioning at a check-up, even though most turn out to be fine:
- No teeth by around 18 months. Usually just late eruption, but worth raising with your dentist or your child's doctor.
- One side much later than the other. If a tooth on one side fell out months ago and its twin is still firmly in place, an X-ray can show whether the adult tooth is developing and on its way.
- An adult tooth coming in behind a baby tooth that is not loose. Common with the lower front teeth; our page on adult teeth growing behind baby teeth explains when it settles by itself.
- A baby tooth lost early because of decay or a knock. Neighbouring teeth can drift into the gap, so the dentist checks whether space for the adult tooth is being kept.
Teeth that are crowded, or a bite that looks off as the adult teeth arrive, can be looked at by our specialist orthodontists through an early orthodontic assessment, usually around age seven.
Normal timing or a reason to see the dentist?
A quick guide for parents watching teeth come and go. If in doubt, a short check is easier than guessing.
| What you notice | Usually normal when | Worth a dental check when |
|---|---|---|
| A baby tooth is wobbly | It loosens slowly around the expected age and is not sore | It is loose much earlier than expected, after a knock, or with swollen gum around it |
| An adult tooth appears behind a baby tooth | The baby tooth is loosening as well | The baby tooth is still firm several weeks later |
| A gap after a tooth falls out | The adult tooth shows within a few months | Nothing appears for many months, or the gap closes up |
| Teeth look darker after a fall | Slight colour change that fades over weeks | The tooth stays dark, the gum swells or a small spot appears on the gum |
| New adult front teeth look large and ridged | The edges have small bumps that wear down with time | The tooth is chipped, rough or sensitive |
Swelling of the face, fever or a child who is unwell with tooth pain needs prompt care: see our page on toothache in children.
Not sure whether your child's teeth are on track? Our children's dentistry in Dubai starts with a short, calm check and advice you can use at home.
See children's dentistryHow should you care for teeth as they arrive and leave?
Brushing starts with the very first tooth, using a smear of fluoride toothpaste, and moves to a pea-sized amount from about age three; our guide to toothpaste amounts and brushing by age covers the details. A first dental visit is recommended when the first tooth appears and by the first birthday, and our guide to your baby's first dental visit explains what happens.
When teeth start to wobble, there is usually no need to hurry them along; the guide to wobbly baby teeth explains when to wait and when the dentist should help. And because baby molars stay in the mouth until ten to twelve years, decay in them is worth treating rather than waiting out, as our page on cavities in baby teeth explains.