Tooth Calendar Blog
First Wiggly Tooth: When Kids Start Losing Baby Teeth, the Order, and Shark Teeth
Around age 6 to 7, the lower front teeth usually loosen first. Why it barely hurts, how to wait it out, what shark teeth mean, and when to see the dentist.
At a glance
- The two lower front teeth are usually first to go
- No string, no yanking: don't force it out
- No new tooth six months after one falls out? See the dentist
"Mom, my tooth is wiggly!" The first time your child says this is a special day for both of you. It also brings questions. When should it come out? Will it hurt? Is it okay that the new tooth is already showing up behind it? Here's what's good to know as your child starts losing baby teeth.
Why baby teeth fall out, and in what order
Under each baby tooth, a permanent tooth is growing in the gum and waiting its turn. As the permanent tooth moves up, the root of the baby tooth slowly dissolves. With a shorter root, the tooth starts to wiggle. Once the root is almost gone, the tooth pops out with the lightest touch. That's why most baby teeth come out without much pain and bleed only a little.
Usually around ages 6 to 7, the two lower front teeth are the first to loosen and fall out. The upper front teeth and then the teeth beside them often follow. The timing varies from child to child, so starting a little earlier or later than friends is usually fine. It's also common for the gap to stay empty for a while. If no new tooth shows up 6 months after a baby tooth falls out, have the dentist check.
Many parents are surprised by how new permanent teeth look. They're more yellow than baby teeth, and the edges of the front teeth are bumpy, like a little saw. Both are normal. They just stand out more next to white baby teeth. New front teeth can look big and a bit awkward for a while, but they look more natural as the face and jaw grow.
It's also common for a permanent tooth to show up behind a baby tooth before the baby tooth is out. Two rows of teeth like this are often called "shark teeth." You see it most with the lower front teeth. If the baby tooth is already loose, you can just wait. Once it falls out, the tongue pushes the new tooth forward into place.
Don't force it: here's how to help
- Let your child wiggle a loose tooth gently with the tongue or a clean finger. Have them wash their hands first.
- Don't tie string to it or pull it out by force. If some root is still there, it will hurt and bleed more.
- Keep brushing gently around the loose tooth as usual. Skipping that spot because it feels sore can make the gums swell.
- If chewing on the loose side is hard, offer soft foods or have your child chew on the other side.
- Once it's out, have your child bite on clean gauze and press gently for a few minutes to stop the bleeding.
- Write down the order and the dates. It makes it easier to check at the next visit that the permanent teeth are coming in well.
Celebrate the day a tooth comes out. Saying something like "Your baby tooth moved out of the way so your big-kid tooth can come in" can help a nervous child look forward to the next one. A common mistake is reaching in to pull the tooth out sooner. Every child wiggles for a different length of time, so wait until it falls out on its own.
Brush as usual on the evening a tooth comes out. Go gently around the empty spot so the brush doesn't press hard there, and clean the rest of the teeth carefully. Food tends to get stuck next to a gap, so the teeth beside it actually need a little extra attention.
Frequently asked questions
My child's teeth are loosening later than other kids'. Is that okay?
The timing varies from child to child. If the permanent tooth has fully come in behind the front teeth but the baby tooth isn't loose at all, have the dentist check.
Shouldn't the baby tooth be pulled quickly with shark teeth?
If the baby tooth is loose, waiting is usually all you need to do. Once it's out, the tongue pushes the new tooth into place. Only see the dentist if the permanent tooth is fully in and the baby tooth isn't loose at all.
The new front teeth look yellow and bumpy.
It's normal for new permanent teeth to look more yellow than baby teeth and to have bumpy edges. They just stand out more next to white baby teeth.
The spot where the tooth came out is bleeding.
Having your child bite on clean gauze and pressing gently for a few minutes usually stops it. If it keeps bleeding even after pressing and waiting, call the dentist.
When to see the dentist
- A permanent tooth is fully in, but the baby tooth in front of it isn't loose at all
- 6 months have passed since a baby tooth fell out, with no permanent tooth in sight
- A loose tooth is making eating hard
- Bleeding doesn't stop even with gauze pressure
- The gums around a loose tooth are swollen and sore
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Sources
- ADA · Eruption Charts (2024)
- AAPD · Management of the Developing Dentition and Occlusion in Pediatric Dentistry (2023)
The information in this article is for general educational purposes and does not replace professional dental care. Talk to a dentist about your child's condition.