When Should I Start to Worry?

Updated on July 26, 2008
N.G. asks from Ponca City, OK
30 answers

Hi, my Son is almost 6 1/2 years old, and he has not lost one tooth, and several of my friends kids (boys and girls) have lost several teeth! My son has been to the Dentist, but, I'm wondering if I should make a special trip to the Dentist Office to ask the Dentist about this or if it is perfectly normal? What is the average age to start losing teeth? Does anyone know?!?!?!

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So What Happened?

Wow! Thank you everyone for all the great responses! I didn't expect so much feedback! You are all awesome!!! I feel so much better and will no longer worry as long as my son's checkups at the Dentist are good, I will quit worrying so much about him losing his baby teeth! He has no complaints and I love the thought of the longer he keeps them the better his adult teeth may be! So again, thank you all soooo much! ~N.~

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B.L.

answers from New Orleans on

Don't panic. My oldest and my youngest didn't lose their first tooth until they were 8 yrs. old. Some kids it just takes longer to lose and get their teeth. My oldest at 14 finally had to have baby teeth pulled.

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A.O.

answers from Pine Bluff on

My oldest child was probably 7 1/2 before he lost any teeth. The younger child is 6 and still hasn't lost any. They both got their teeth late. The oldest one was over a year old before he got his first tooth! I wouldn't worry just yet.

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D.F.

answers from Jackson on

My daughter was almost 8 when she started losing her teeth but she was almost 8months when she started cutting her teeth.

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L.A.

answers from Pine Bluff on

I don't think it's anything to worry about. My daughter is 6 as well and hasn't lost any of her teeth. I just think that some are slower than others. If you find out there's something wrong with that picture please let me know. I've never thought anything of it.

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M.M.

answers from Huntsville on

If the dentist says not to worry, then don't. He probably has taken an x-ray and sees other teeth in the gums, just ready to take their places once the baby teeth are gone.

Was you son late in getting his teeth when he was a baby?

My son was late too -- and I told him God just wanted him to have more practice brushing baby teeth before He gave him the teeth that would have to last him the rest of his life. (Frankly, God should have left the teeth in his head until he was ten!)

Tony took a while but they're all gone. He did have to have his 4 widsom teeth pulled in college; however, that's not anything like when I had to have mine pulled. Eating steak within two days!

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M.L.

answers from Tulsa on

You absolutely should NOT worry. There is a huge range of ages when kids lose their first teeth. Mine didn't lose his first one until the end of first grade and then he suddenly lost all four at the same time. His best friend already had 8 permanent teeth in (maybe more) by that time. Now, going into fourth grade, one of his friends just lost his top front baby tooth so anything can happen and it does. Just count yourself very lucky.

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L.H.

answers from Jonesboro on

My daughter is 6 1/2 and she's only lost one tooth. I think it really depends on the child, and when they got their teeth. Most of my children lost their first tooth between six and seven...

I have five children - 17, 15, 12, 6, and 3. Married to my husband for twenty years.

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A.L.

answers from New Orleans on

Don't worry my oldest two were 8 or 9 when they started loosing teeth and my baby is 7 and still hasn't lost any. My daughter is 12 and has only lost 4 baby teeth and my Son who is 15 has only lost like 8 (the front top & bottom). The dentest told me that was very good because the longer they have their baby teeth the healther and stronger their adult teeth will be.

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T.G.

answers from Enid on

Hi N., I wouldn't worry too much yet. My son didn't lose his first tooth until after he turned 7. I was a little worried too but then he got the first loose tooth and then a second right after. I'm not sure what the average age is when they start losing teeth, but I am betting it is around 7. Hope this helps!

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C.T.

answers from Fayetteville on

I have heard-not sure if it is true-that the later they came in as a baby, the later they will fall out. Anyway-my nephew didn't get a tooth until he was 11 mos old and didn't lose a tooth until he was 7 1/2 (except for the one he knocked out!) I would be more worried if mine started losing teeth early. I know of one who was 5 when he lost his 1st tooth!

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R.S.

answers from Pine Bluff on

Hey N., no worries.....My oldest was very slow in getting teeth, my sister is a dentist and she said that the longer it takes for teeth to come in the healther they are....he was much later losing his teeth than my younger son who cut them very early......R.

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L.J.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Was your son premature when he was born. My daughter was and she did'nt loose her first tooth till she was older.Now she is 25 years old,and has a beautiful set of teeth.I don't think you have anything to worry about.But if he was'nt premature and you are really concerned about this.By all means talk to his dentist.

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C.I.

answers from Fort Smith on

Every child is different. My oldest daughter did not get baby teeth until she was almost 11 months old. She was late losing her first tooth. She lost it at exactly 6.5 years. The dentist said that one of her teeth was just barely loose and it took at least 6 months from that time to actually lose it. My second daughter lost several teeth before she was six. She got her baby teeth at exactly 6 months. They say that getting baby teeth late often means losing teeth late - but not always. If the dentist wasn't worried, I wouldn't make a special trip back. If you are still really concerned, you might call the dentist - don't pay for a trip.

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J.H.

answers from Pine Bluff on

ditto to all these folks. i didn't lose my first tooth until second grade and that's because my dad pulled it out with pliers because they were nervous about me not losing any teeth yet (i was the youngest of four). the later the teeth the healthier. i didn't get my twelve year old molars until i was 15 - all mouths are different i guess.

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A.H.

answers from Biloxi on

Hi N..

I wouldn't worry about it! You should be glad that he is keeping them for so long! Every child is different. Pay no attention to what your friends say. They will fall out when they are good and ready!

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K.C.

answers from Tulsa on

Do you go to a pediatric dentist? I would ask next time you go. My son who is now 11 has never lost a tooth naturally. His adult teeth would have come in behind his baby teeth and not pushed the baby ones out. Your dentist will be able to see this by x-ray. If this is not an issue then the adult teeth will push them out when they are coming in.

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S.B.

answers from Houma on

N.,
You say you've taken your son to the dentist,IF he was not concerned about your son's teeth, just make a phone call to his office and ask. My own daughter did not lose any teeth until she was six years old. She now has beautiful teeth. I don't see any reason for concern. Have a wonderful day!

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V.L.

answers from Oklahoma City on

My son will be 7 in September and he just now got a loose tooth like on July 5th. He was so happy. Since it came loose, he has been asking me everyday if it is still loose or if it tightened back up. lol. I wasn't worried at all.

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J.C.

answers from Tuscaloosa on

My daughter is also 6 and hasn't lost any teeth. Her cousin is a few months older and has lost several. I think it just depends on the kid. My daughter goes to the pediatric dentist every 6 months and he hasn't mentioned a problem.

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S.B.

answers from Mobile on

Definitely do not worry. My 6 yo will be 7 in August and has just started to lose her teeth. She was late to get her teeth, a year old, so the dentist said she will be late to lose them. Our dentist said it is actually a good thing if she loses them late. She just lost her third tooth yesterday and it has been three months since she lost her last tooth.

Don't worry. Once he loses one, he will start to lose the rest of them.

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M.H.

answers from Tulsa on

My oldest son is also almost 6 1/2 and has one tooth that is loose, but just recently became loose. You also may want to try to remember when he first got teeth. My son didn't get his first tooth until somewhere around 10 months old (which by the way I was thankful for because I was paranoid of getting bitten!). We have a friend who's daughter is only 2 weeks older and she not only has 3 baby teeth gone, but 2 new teeth starting to come in. It really doesn't seem to be something major to worry about, but I would start putting aside tooth-fairy change because it will eventually happen one right after the other! :-)

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P.P.

answers from Jonesboro on

Don't worry. It has been my experience that the longer it takes for those "baby teeth" to start coming out, the stronger the permanent teeth will be-the longer they have to develope. Of course, you do want to check to see if there's a problem with their breaking through. Having recently had a dental exam, it doesn't sound like you have a problem.

About me: P. P.--I'm a 64-yr-old mother of 5, grandmother of 11 with 2 on the way, still working fulltime, planning to retire in 2010. YIPPEE! I want to spend more time with those grandkids.

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M.B.

answers from Tulsa on

Hi N.. My son was 7 before he lost his first and then my second son is 7 1/2 and just lost his first tooth last week. I wouldn't worry to much about it. They will come out when they are ready. I know it is hard for the kids to wait when their friends are loosing them!! I always say that it is better for them not to loose one early since the new one will be the one they have forever. Less worry about if they are taking care of them like they should!!!
hth, M.

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C.S.

answers from Texarkana on

My oldest son was a little over 7 before he lost his first tooth and that was only because his cousin head butted him in the mouth and made his front two teeth loose. He has beautiful teeth now and is 20. If you have been to the dentist and he didn't say anything was wrong I wouldn't worry, sounds like you have to busy of a life to worry about this. :~)

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K.P.

answers from Huntsville on

My son is also 6 1/2 and hasn't lost a tooth yet. His pediatric Dentist said that happens. Infact, his daughter didn't lose her first tooth until she was 7. My son's extemely anxious to lose one since all of his friends (even younger ones) have already lost his tooth. I'll cry if my 2nd son loses a tooth before him. His dentist said since he got teeth so early (4mths) that he'd probably be the first in his class to lose a tooth, but it was the opposite...strange.

So, Don't worry, just be patient. :)

K.
SAHM to 4 ; 3 boys (6,5, & 3) and a little princess who just turned 1

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M.D.

answers from Lafayette on

Hi,
My name is M.. I worked for a dentist at one time and the longer kids keep their baby teeth the better. It makes their adult teeth better, too. So, don't worry they will come out in time.

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S.L.

answers from Lake Charles on

N.
Do not worry. All kids lose their teeth at different ages. My son lost teeth at six and my daughter did not start until she was 7 1/2. They say the later they lose the teeth, the stronger they will come back in. Who knows? I just waited until they were loose and let them either pull them, or wait until they fell out. I had a hard time pulling teeth. Just start checkups by two and continue throughout their lives.

S. MIller

G.M.

answers from Texarkana on

NEVER! : ) Worry hinders every promise of God!

It isn't uncommon at all for a child not to lose their first tooth at age 7 or even 8 although I think 7 is the norm. I've heard that the longer a child keeps his baby teeth the better his grown-up teeth will be. I don't know if that's true, but I'd check with mama and mother-in-love to see when yours and husband's (father's) came out and I'd guess you'd find it was later than age 6 : )

Be blessed and trust in the Lord with your whole heart. Don't lean to your own understanding, but in all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your path!

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S.A.

answers from Tulsa on

My son is 6 1/2 as well and has not lost a tooth. He goes to the dentist regularly and nothing was mentioned. I didn't think that kids lost teeth until a little older. Good luck, try not to worry!

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A.S.

answers from Jonesboro on

N., My son is 6 yrs & 7 mths. He too has not lost any teeth. He sees the pediatric dentist every 6 months--last time was in May. Our dentist says the teeth are there & has xrayed to prove it. My son was late getting baby teeth (1st one at 10 mths, 2nd one at 13mths) so should be late losing them. My dentist also says it is much better for kids to be older when they get their adult teeth because they tend to brush and floss better. My son is anxious for a loose tooth so he can be like all of his friends!! AS

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