Book 2, Question 77 · Video
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 2
Read the full answer →What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hey there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do we lose baby teeth?
The Big Idea
Baby teeth are small. Your jaw grows bigger as you grow, and bigger adult teeth need room. Here's the trick. A bigger tooth grows underneath and pushes the baby tooth out. Adult teeth need the parking spot!
Adult Tooth Grows Under
Step one: an adult tooth grows under. Long before your baby tooth wiggles, a bigger adult tooth is growing deep in your gums, right below it. It waits there, hidden, until it is ready.
Roots Shrink
Step two: the roots of the baby tooth shrink. As the adult tooth pushes up, your body slowly dissolves the roots of the baby tooth, so less and less holds it in place. It happens bit by bit, with no ouch at all.
Wiggle, Fall, Rise
Step three: the tooth wiggles, then it falls, and a new one rises. With hardly any root left, the baby tooth gets loose. Wiggle, wiggle, and out it pops! Then the adult tooth rises up into the empty spot.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look inside your gums! First, the baby tooth sits in the gum, and it has roots. Second, the adult tooth waits below, growing bigger. Third, the roots shrink, so the baby tooth gets loose.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Most kids lose about 20 baby teeth. That means 20 baby teeth make way for bigger adult teeth. Losing teeth is normal and it usually starts around age 6. If a tooth is wiggly, brush gently and keep it clean!
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Count how many adult teeth you already have. Grab a mirror, and open wide. Count each adult tooth, one by one. Write the number down. Then ask: which teeth are still baby teeth?
Outro
Every lost tooth means a bigger, stronger tooth is on the way. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!