Normal Age for Primary Teeth to Start Falling Out
Children typically begin losing their primary (baby) teeth around age 6 years, with the lower central incisors being the first to fall out. 1
Typical Timeline and Sequence
Initial tooth loss:
- The lower central incisors are generally the first primary teeth to be lost around age 6 years, followed closely by the upper central incisors. 1
- The maxillary (upper) central incisors typically exfoliate between 5 to 7 years of age. 1
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends monitoring the replacement of primary teeth with permanent teeth, starting with the lower central incisors, which are replaced by permanent counterparts around ages 6-8 years. 2
The Mixed Dentition Phase
Progressive tooth replacement:
- From ages 6 through 12 years, children are in the mixed dentition phase, during which they exchange primary teeth for permanent teeth. 1
- By age 8 or 9 years, most of the incisors are permanent teeth, with a mixture of primary canines and molars remaining until approximately age 12 years. 1
- By age 13 years, most children have exfoliated all primary teeth and have 28 permanent teeth. 1
Important Clinical Considerations
Variation in timing:
- Approximately 10% of children may experience delayed dental development, though most follow the general population timeline. 2
- The mixed dentition phase (ages 6-12 years) is a high-risk period for dental caries due to the difficulty of cleaning erupting teeth and behavioral factors affecting oral hygiene in children. 2
Common Pitfall
Parent education is critical: Many parents cannot distinguish between primary and permanent teeth—only 33% of parents correctly identified the permanent first molar as a permanent tooth, with 59.3% mistakenly believing it was a primary tooth. 3 This is particularly important because the first permanent molars erupt around age 6 years (not replacing any primary tooth) and are often mistaken for primary teeth that will eventually fall out.