Book 2, Question 77
Why Do We Lose Baby Teeth?
We lose baby teeth because a bigger adult tooth grows underneath and pushes the baby tooth out as the jaw grows.
Baby teeth are small, but your jaw grows bigger as you grow, and bigger adult teeth need room. A bigger tooth grows underneath and pushes the baby tooth out. Most kids lose about 20 baby teeth!
Watch the videoWatch on YouTubeBuy on Amazon
Quick answers
When do kids start losing teeth?
Most kids start losing baby teeth around age 6.
When do baby teeth appear?
Usually when babies are about 6 to 12 months old.
Sources: KidsHealth (Nemours), Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 2
More fun facts
- Unlike your heart or brain, your teeth were not ready to work on the day you were born.
- Baby teeth usually start to show when babies are about 6 to 12 months old.
- Most kids start losing baby teeth around age 6.
- The order kids lose teeth usually matches the order their baby teeth first came in.
- Some people are born missing up to six adult teeth that never develop. This is called hypodontia.
Sources: KidsHealth (Nemours), Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic
Questions kids ask
When do kids start losing baby teeth?
Most kids start around age 6, but some start a little earlier or later.