In what order do baby teeth appear? At what age does each tooth erupt? What is the correct sequence of tooth eruption in children? Learn about the order of baby teeth here.
You’ve enjoyed your baby’s toothless smile for the past couple of months and while you wish it could last forever, we all know that’s not possible. The next thing you’re wondering is what the order of baby teeth appearance is like, what to expect, and when to be concerned. In this article, we examine the order of baby teeth and how to care for your child’s first tooth.
The eruption of teeth is part of your baby or child’s developmental milestones. By the time a child is 2 to 3 years of age, all 20 primary teeth (baby teeth) should have erupted.
The first teeth usually begin to break through the gums at about 6 months of age. Do note that when it comes to teething, every baby is different. Some babies might start to have teeth as early as 4 months, and for some, baby teeth appear as late as 1 year!
In some cases, a baby may be born with one or more teeth. To learn more about the order of baby’s teeth and what you should expect after your bub’s first tooth comes out, we spoke to Dr. Rashid Tahir, a specialist in Paediatric Dentistry, The Kids Dentist, Camden Medical Centre.
Getting to Know the Teeth
Before we go into the order of baby teeth appearance, Dr. Rashid says that it’s best to get familiar with the names of the teeth.
Primary Teeth
Let’s name the teeth from the front to the back.
There are two types of incisors – primary and lateral.
The front two teeth are known as the central incisors. Next to these are the lateral incisors.
The canines and then the molars follow this. Dr Rashid states that there are 2 baby molars and no pre-molars in the primary dentition (arrangement of the teeth).
Interesting Facts About the Order of Baby Teeth
Here are some interesting facts about teeth eruption order in babies:
- Girls usually get their baby teeth earlier than boys.
- Premature and low birth weight babies can have delayed primary tooth eruption and enamel defects, putting them at higher risk for decay.
- As a rule, for every 6 months of life, approximately 4 teeth will erupt.
- Lower teeth usually erupt before upper teeth.
- Primary teeth eruption is usually symmetrical. Teeth in both jaws usually erupt in pairs — one on the right and one on the left.
- Primary teeth have thinner enamel, are smaller in size and whiter in colour than the permanent teeth that will appear later.
- The spacing between children’s baby teeth is important because it allows enough room for the bigger, permanent teeth.
- By the time a child is 2 to 3 years of age, all twenty primary teeth – 10 in the upper jaw and 10 in the lower jaw, should have erupted.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends contacting a dentist if your baby hasn’t experienced any tooth eruptions by 18 months of age.
Primary Teeth Eruption Order
There are five different types of teeth your baby will develop during the first three years. Your baby will usually get their teeth in this order:
- central incisors (front teeth)
- lateral incisors (between the central incisors and canines)
- first molars
- canines (beside the first molars)
- second molars
It is important to note that baby teeth eruption times can vary from child to child.
Your child’s teeth can fall out in any order, but baby teeth usually fall out in the same order they arrived. Also, if your child’s baby teeth came in later than his peers, they may lose them later too.
Here we list out in what order baby teeth will (usually) erupt, and when they are expected to fall out.
-
Lower Central incisor
When tooth emerges: 6 to 10 months
When tooth falls out: 6 to 7 years
-
Upper Central incisor
When tooth emerges: 8 to 12 months
When tooth falls out: 6 to 7 years
-
Upper Lateral incisor
When tooth emerges: 9 to 13 months
When tooth falls out: 7 to 8 years
-
Lower Lateral incisor
When tooth emerges: 10 to 16 months
When tooth falls out: 7 to 8 years
-
Upper First Molar
When tooth emerges: 13 to 19 months
When tooth falls out: 9 to 11 years
-
Lower First Molar
When tooth emerges: 14 to 18 month
When tooth falls out: 9 to 11 years
-
Upper Canine or Cuspid
When tooth emerges: 16 to 22 months
When tooth falls out: 10 to 12 years
-
Lower Canine or Cuspid
When tooth emerges: 17 to 23 months
When tooth falls out: 9 to 12 years
-
Lower Second Molar
When tooth emerges: 23 to 31 months
When tooth falls out: 10 to 12 years
-
Upper Second Molar
When tooth emerges: 25 to 33 months
When tooth falls out: 10 to 12 years
Permanent Teeth Eruption Order
Eruption for the permanent teeth begins between 5 and 7 years and usually finishes by 13 to 14 years of age. Your child will probably have all 28 permanent adult teeth at around age 13. The four wisdom teeth will usually come in when he/she’s 17 to 21 years old.
The typical pattern for permanent teeth eruption is central incisors, lateral incisors, first molars, premolars, canines, second molars, and third molars (wisdom teeth), although not everyone develops or erupts third molars.
Upper Permanent Teeth Development Timeline
Central incisor
When tooth emerges: 7 to 8 years
Lateral incisor
When tooth emerges: 8 to 9 years
Canine (cuspid)
When tooth emerges: 11 to 12 years
First premolar (first bicuspid)
When tooth emerges: 10 to 11 years
Second premolar (second bicuspid)
When tooth emerges: 10 to 12 years
First molar
When tooth emerges: 6 to 7 years
Second molar
When tooth emerges: 12 to 13 years
Third molar (wisdom teeth)
When tooth emerges: 17 to 21 years
Lower Permanent Teeth Development Timeline
Third molar (wisdom tooth)
When tooth emerges: 17 to 21 years
Second molar
When tooth emerges: 11 to 13 years
First molar
When tooth emerges: 6 to 7 years
Second premolar (second bicuspid)
When tooth emerges: 11 to 12 years
First premolar (first bicuspid)
When tooth emerges: 10 to 12 years
Canine (cuspid)
When tooth emerges: 9 to 10 years
Lateral incisor
When tooth emerges: 7 to 8 years
Central incisor
When tooth emerges: 6 to 7 years
Dispelling Myths
Apparently, there are some common old wives’ tales circulating in Singapore about the order of baby teeth. Some say that if the baby’s teeth appear later, it is an indication that the teeth are stronger and will last longer.
But Dr Rashid wishes to dispel this myth. The timing of the appearance of the teeth is not an indication of its strength. What actually happens is that if the baby teeth come in later, it means that it’s very likely that the adult teeth will be replacing them a bit later as well.
Meaning, if you start getting teeth at about 7, 8 or 9 months, then the adult successors will come in later.
The order of baby teeth appearance is generally hereditary and follows the familial pattern.
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Why Taking Care of Baby Teeth Is Important
Some parents tend to get lazy when it comes to taking care of their little ones’ baby or primary teeth because they know these will fall out to make way for permanent teeth.
However, baby teeth play a vital role as:
- They reserve space for their permanent counterparts
- They give the face its normal appearance
- They aid in the development of clear speech
- They help attain good nutrition (missing or decayed teeth make it difficult to chew, causing children to reject foods)
- They help give a healthy start to permanent teeth. Decay and infection in baby teeth can cause dark spots on the permanent teeth to develop beneath them.
Tips for taking care of baby teeth
In that regard, here are some reminders for parents when it comes to caring for their little ones’ teeth:
- Even before tooth eruption, parents can begin wiping the gums of a baby with a soft washcloth or soft toothbrush to establish a daily oral hygiene routine.
- In the case of breastfed babies, stop night feedings once teeth erupt, or clean your child’s gums after feeding.
- Fruit juices, soft drinks, sweet teas, formula, or milk should not be put in an infant’s bottle or sippy cup during bedtime or nap time. At these times, bottles or sippy cups should only contain water.
- Introduce a cup as soon as the infant can sit unsupported (around 6 months of age) and try to eliminate the bottle by 1 year of age.
- Clean or brush a young child’s teeth twice daily. Toothbrushes for infants and toddlers should be soft, with a small head and a large handle.
- According to the AAP, toothbrushing should be supervised until the child can reliably rinse and spit out excess toothpaste (usually until 6 years of age). Younger children do not have the hand coordination necessary for independent toothbrushing before that age.
- Parents should not allow their children to swallow fluoridated toothpaste.
“My child’s baby teeth are coming out crooked. Is that normal?”
The short answer for that question is yes, and no.
As mentioned earlier, baby teeth or milk teeth are considered placeholders for a baby’s adult teeth, helping guide them in as they develop and erupt later in life. This development can still go on as expected regardless of whether your baby’s first teeth aren’t quite straight.
However, there are some instances that crooked teeth can be a problem, especially if it is related to overcrowding of teeth or hyperdontia. Those cases can cause discomfort, as well as speech and chewing problems.
Some of the usual causes of crookedness in teeth are genetics, prolonged thumbsucking or use of a pacifier, tooth decay or injury.
To prevent the negative side effects of having crooked teeth, it’s best to bring your baby to his first dentist appointment by 12 months so his teeth can also be assessed.
Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.