Milk Teeth – What You Should Know?

Everyone had milk teeth during childhood. Currently, many adults are dealing with this topic as they care for children whose milk teeth are falling out. However, before permanent teeth appear in the mouth, various dental problems may arise. What is the sequence of milk tooth loss, and what should you know about milk teeth?

What Are the Characteristics of Milk Teeth?

Milk teeth are a person’s first set of teeth. The buds of milk teeth appear as early as the fetal stage and are crucial for a child’s development. Milk teeth play an important role in learning to chew and break down food, as well as in speech and facial expressions.

A child’s first teeth are weaker than permanent teeth. They have a thinner layer of enamel, are less mineralized, and more prone to acid damage and cavities. That is why maintaining hygiene for the first teeth, regular visits to the dentist, and treating cavities if necessary are essential.

A characteristic feature of milk teeth in a child’s mouth is the relatively large gaps between them. This is a normal condition that ensures sufficient space for permanent teeth, which are significantly larger than milk teeth. The root of a milk tooth is also smaller than that of a permanent tooth, making them more prone to being knocked out or damaged. When a child has a full set of milk teeth, permanent tooth buds are already developing beneath them.

How Many Milk Teeth Does a Child Have and When Do They Appear?

Typically, children develop 20 milk teeth, with 10 in each jaw. These include:

• 4 incisors,
• 2 canines,
• 4 molars.

It is impossible to pinpoint an exact time in a child’s development when the first milk teeth should appear. This depends on various factors, including genetic predisposition. However, the first milk teeth, the lower incisors, usually appear between the 6th and 8th month of life. The following teeth typically appear in this order:

• First upper incisors (8-12 months),
• Second upper incisors (9-13 months),
• Second lower incisors (10-16 months),
• First upper molars (13-19 months),
• First lower molars (14-18 months),
• Upper canines (16-22 months),
• Lower canines (17-23 months),
• Lower second molars (23-31 months),
• Upper second molars (25-33 months).

Order of Milk Tooth Loss – Is It Always the Same?

The loss of milk teeth depends not only on genetic factors and diet but also on the child’s gender. It occurs earlier in girls. The time at which the first milk teeth emerged also influences when they will fall out. The replacement of milk teeth with permanent ones also happens more quickly if oral hygiene was neglected or if the teeth were affected by cavities.

The order in which milk teeth fall out is usually similar to their eruption sequence. The approximate ages at which milk teeth are lost are:

• Lower central incisors (6-7 years),
• Lower lateral incisors (7-8 years),
• Upper central incisors (6-7 years),
• Upper lateral incisors (7-8 years),
• Lower canines (9-12 years),
• Upper canines (10-12 years).

Sometimes, the first milk tooth may fall out earlier than expected. This is not necessarily a cause for concern. However, if the first teeth start falling out around the age of 5 or much later than usual, a visit to the dentist is recommended. Both late teething and significant deviations from typical tooth loss periods may indicate various health problems.

Premature loss of milk teeth may be a symptom of gum disease, psoriasis, or diabetes. Late tooth loss in a young child may indicate thyroid issues, rickets, vitamin D deficiency, cystic fibrosis, or abnormal jaw development, such as malocclusion.

Therefore, both milk teeth and the emerging permanent teeth should be regularly monitored by a dentist. During the period of milk tooth loss, it is advisable to visit the dentist every few months. Additionally, maintaining proper oral hygiene for the child is crucial, particularly for the teeth. Dental care should include not only brushing but also teaching the child to use dental floss. Developing good habits at a young age helps establish proper hygiene practices and ensures better care for permanent teeth in the future.

Loose Milk Teeth – Should They Be Pulled or Left Alone?

It often happens that when milk teeth start to fall out, they become loose for a few days, causing slight discomfort, especially when eating. While this is a rare issue with permanent teeth and usually requires a visit to the dentist, with milk teeth, parents sometimes consider pulling them out themselves.

If a milk tooth is causing significant discomfort and pain, it is best to visit a dentist who can remove it almost painlessly. If the tooth is already very loose, it can often be “pulled out” easily. In this case, the child should bite down on a sterile gauze pad for about 30 minutes to stop any possible bleeding. All necessary assistance, regular check-ups, dental procedures, and advice regarding milk teeth are available at Dłucik Dental Clinic.