My daughter just turned six, and hasn't lost of any of her baby teeth, is this normal?

 

Ask Dr. Wallin

Q: My daughter just turned six, and hasn't lost of any of her baby teeth, is this normal?

A: Baby teeth fall out on their own and while some children start to lose their teeth earlier, age 6 is about right. The first to go are usually lower center teeth, which are often the first to appear when a child is about 6 months old. 

The upper center teeth are usually next. Once a child loses their first tooth, the remaining baby teeth loosen and gradually start to fall out as well. This lasts until about age 12. There is generally no discomfort with losing baby teeth, although there can be a little bleeding or sore gums. 

The transition to permanent teeth is also a great time to stress the importance of dental hygiene. Although they should have been taking care of their baby teeth as well, maybe it's a good time to talk about brushing between meals and flossing at bedtime. Once permanent teeth have broken through, it also may be a good time to have your dentist cover them with a brush-on sealant to help protect against tooth decay. 

Author: Dr. Ryan Wallin DDS

Source: Go Gilbert Magazine

 
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