Baby teeth chart: eruption and fall-out timeline

Children have 20 baby teeth, ten in each jaw, and the first usually appears between six and ten months of age, almost always a lower front incisor. The full set is typically in place by the third birthday. From around age six the teeth begin to fall out in roughly the same order they arrived, and by ten to twelve years the last baby molars have usually made way for the permanent set. Healthy children vary widely around these dates, so treat every timeline, including this one, as a guide rather than a deadline.

Why baby teeth matter

Baby teeth, also called primary or milk teeth, are 20 in number: eight incisors, four canines and eight molars, ten in each jaw. They do far more than chew toddler food. They shape early speech sounds, support the growing face and jaws, and hold space so the permanent teeth underneath can erupt into the right positions. A baby tooth lost too early to decay can let neighbouring teeth drift, crowding the adult tooth that follows. Regular paediatric dentistry check-ups protect that space from the very start.

Eruption timeline by tooth group

Most babies cut their first tooth between six and ten months, almost always a lower central incisor. Teeth then arrive roughly front to back, in pairs, with the lower teeth usually a little ahead of the upper ones. The one exception is the canines, which typically appear after the first molars. By around the third birthday the full set of 20 is usually in place. The ranges below are broad by design: perfectly healthy children land all across them.

When baby teeth fall out

Shedding broadly mirrors eruption: first in, first out. The lower central incisors loosen first, usually around age six, followed by the upper centrals and then the lateral incisors. Canines and molars hold on longer, and the second molars are often the last to go, between ten and twelve. A tooth that has loosened on its own can be wiggled out gently by the child when it is ready; there is no need to force it, and the small amount of bleeding afterwards normally settles quickly with light pressure.

One event surprises many parents: around age six, the first permanent molars erupt at the back of the mouth behind all the baby teeth, without replacing any of them. Because these new molars have deep grooves and need to last a lifetime, this is the ideal age to ask about dental sealants, a thin protective coating that helps keep decay out of those grooves while brushing skills are still developing.

How much variation is normal

Timing varies enormously between healthy children, and a difference of around six months either side of any chart is generally considered normal. What matters more than exact dates is the overall sequence and symmetry: teeth usually arrive in pairs, left and right together, and the order tends to follow the chart even when the dates do not. If one side lags far behind the other, or the order looks very unusual, that is worth a look at a routine appointment rather than a cause for alarm.

• Early or late teething on its own is rarely a sign of a problem
• Girls are often slightly ahead of boys, and teething patterns tend to run in families
• Children born prematurely may reach each stage a little later
• Gaps between baby teeth are healthy; they leave room for the larger permanent teeth
• A permanent tooth appearing behind a firm baby tooth, sometimes called shark teeth, usually settles once the baby tooth comes out

When to see a paediatric dentist

Book a routine appointment if there are no teeth at all by 18 months, if a baby tooth shows no sign of loosening long after its usual window, or if a permanent tooth has fully erupted while the baby tooth in front stays firmly in place. Dark spots, chalky patches, persistent bad breath or a child avoiding chewing on one side also deserve a check. Our consultant paediatric dentist, Dr. Vanessa Lobo, sees children of all ages, and our guide to a child's first dental visit explains what that early appointment involves.

See a dentist urgently, the same day, if a tooth is knocked out or pushed out of position in a fall, or if there is facial swelling, fever with tooth pain, or bleeding that does not settle. Do not try to push a knocked-out baby tooth back into its socket, as this can damage the permanent tooth developing underneath. Prudent Dental Clinic in Viman Nagar is open seven days a week; call +91 70287 22200 and we will see your child as quickly as we can.

Sources & further reading: NHS, Dental Health; American Dental Association (MouthHealthy); World Health Organization, Oral Health; Indian Dental Association.