| Quick Answer: Children lose all 20 of their baby teeth. The process usually starts around age 6 with the lower front teeth and finishes around age 12 with the back baby molars. As each baby tooth falls out, a permanent tooth takes its place — and adults end up with 32 permanent teeth, including 4 wisdom teeth. |
Once that first tooth gets wobbly, parents naturally wonder how many more are coming. The answer is tidy: all 20 baby teeth fall out over about six years. Our kid-focused dentists at Deming Children’s Dentistry walk Luna County families through this milestone all the time — here’s the complete timeline.
How Many Baby Teeth Do Kids Lose?
All 20. A full set of baby teeth is 20 — 10 on top and 10 on bottom — and every one of them is designed to fall out and be replaced by a permanent tooth. Adults end up with 32 permanent teeth, the extra 12 erupting at the back as the jaw grows.
When Does Tooth Loss Start and End?
Most children lose their first tooth around age 6 and their last baby tooth around age 12 — about six years from start to finish. There’s plenty of normal variation: some kids start at 4 or 5, others closer to 7.
The Tooth Loss Timeline
| Baby tooth | Typical age lost |
|---|---|
| Lower central incisors | 6–7 years |
| Upper central incisors | 6–7 years |
| Lateral incisors | 7–8 years |
| First baby molars | 9–11 years |
| Canines | 9–12 years |
| Second baby molars | 10–12 years |
The order roughly mirrors the order the teeth came in — first in, first out.
What’s Normal Along the Way
- A first tooth lost anywhere from age 4 to 8
- One side a little ahead of the other
- A tooth wiggling for weeks before it lets go
- A permanent tooth occasionally erupting behind a baby tooth (“shark teeth”)
When to Check With Us
Reach out if a tooth is lost very early from injury, no teeth have been lost by about age 8, a baby tooth stays put while the permanent tooth comes in behind it, or there’s pain or swelling. Catching these early keeps the permanent teeth on track — and regular preventive visits let us monitor progress as it happens.
Visit Deming Children’s Dentistry
Our kid-focused team on E Pine St helps Deming, Silver City, Lordsburg and Luna County families navigate every stage — from the first wiggly tooth to the last baby molar. We care for children from age 1 through 18 (special needs to 26), in English and Spanish. Contact our office to schedule a visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many baby teeth do you lose?
All 20. Every baby tooth falls out and is replaced by a permanent tooth, usually between ages 6 and 12.
At what age do kids start and finish losing teeth?
Most start around age 6 with the lower front teeth and finish around age 12 with the back baby molars — about six years total.
What order do baby teeth fall out in?
Generally lower central incisors first, then upper central incisors, lateral incisors, first baby molars, canines, and finally second baby molars — roughly the order they came in.
How many permanent teeth replace baby teeth?
The 20 baby teeth are replaced by permanent teeth, and adults have 32 in total — the extra 12 erupt at the back of the jaw, including 4 wisdom teeth.
When should I worry about my child’s tooth loss?
Check with us if teeth are lost very early from injury, none are lost by about age 8, a permanent tooth erupts behind a baby tooth that won’t loosen, or there’s pain or swelling.
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Tracking your child’s tooth loss? We truly care about your child’s health and happiness. Reach out to get your child’s appointment scheduled. We can’t wait to see you. Deming Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics │ 1310 E Pine St, Ste B, Deming, NM 88030 │ (575) 544-9999 │ Contact Us → |