If you have a toddler, he or she probably already has a mouthful of teeth, but the toddler will soon be losing these teeth. Kids normally begin losing teeth around the age of five, and as a parent, here are a few things you should know about your child and the baby teeth he or she will lose.

It takes time for all the baby teeth to fall out

Around the age of five or six, your child will probably begin losing his or her baby teeth. The first teeth to go are usually the middle teeth on the bottom, but this varies. One by one, each baby tooth will fall out; however, this process will not occur quickly.

Your child may be in his or her teen years before all the baby teeth come out. When a tooth gets loose, you can encourage your child to keep wiggling it, as this may help it come out faster. You should realize that most baby teeth will come out on their own and will not require you pulling them out.

You should see a dentist if a baby tooth gets knocked out

If your child loses a baby tooth prematurely, you should seek help from the dentist. Losing a tooth prematurely often happens from trauma. For example, if your child gets hit in the mouth with a baseball, it could cause a baby tooth to fall out years before it would have on its own. When this happens, there is a problem your dentist will want to address.

Because the baby tooth fell out too soon, there will not be a permanent tooth there erupting. This will leave a gap in the child's mouth for years, and your dentist may want to put in a space retainer to hold this gap. If you do not get this, the child's other teeth may shift into this spot, causing crowding of the teeth.

Keeping baby teeth cavity-free is vital

You should also know that taking care of baby teeth is just as important as taking care of permanent teeth. If your child gets a cavity on a baby tooth, you should get it removed and filled, as leaving decay in a baby tooth could lead to other problems.  

When your child loses his or her first tooth, it can be an exciting day for both you and the child. If you have questions about baby teeth or oral care for your child, contact a dental clinic like Family & Cosmetic Dentistry today.