When will we see the first teeth?
The following chart provides an estimated time frame for eruption of your baby’s primary teeth (baby teeth) and also when you can expect them to fall out, in order to make way for their adult ones.
|
Upper Teeth |
Age tooth emerges |
Age tooth falls out |
|
Central incisor |
8 to 12 months |
6 to 7 years |
|
Lateral incisor |
9 to 13 months |
7 to 8 years |
|
Canine (eye tooth) |
16 to 22 months |
10 to 12 years |
|
First molar |
13 to 19 months |
9 to 11 years |
|
Second molar |
25 to 33 months |
10 to 12 years |
|
Lower Teeth |
|
|
|
Second molar |
23 to 31 months |
10 to 12 years |
|
First molar |
14 to 18 months |
9 to 11 years |
|
Canine (eye tooth) |
17 to 23 months |
9 to 12 years |
|
Lateral incisor |
10 to 16 months |
7 to 8 years |
|
Central incisor |
6 to 10 months |
6 to 7 years |
Are the ‘baby teeth’ really important?
Baby teeth are important, not only for chewing food, but also to reserve space in the jaw for future adult teeth. If neglected, baby teeth can decay, causing pain and leading to a situation where the tooth may need to be extracted.
Some people think that caring for baby teeth isn’t crucial because they are going to fall out any way. However, the premature extraction of a baby tooth allows nearby teeth to drift into the gap, thereby creating problems for the emerging adult tooth. In addition, the habits required to care for the adult teeth are best learned prior to their arrival.
