Book 2, Question 77
Why Do We Lose Baby Teeth?
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!
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.