At what age do children lose their baby teeth?

Have you already met the tooth fairy, who brings you a coin for a lost baby tooth? Sleepless nights are over, your baby pleases you with twenty temporary teeth and you are starting to think about when to expect permanent ones? Let's try to figure it out when baby teeth fall out

, what you need to remember and what to pay attention to when your child changes
baby teeth
to permanent ones.

How it all happens

First of all, a little anatomy. Baby teeth are formed in the prenatal period, but the formation of permanent teeth begins after the baby is born. Thus, when you rejoice at the first tooth that has erupted, its replacement is already waiting in the wings. The time and order of eruption of permanent teeth, as well as milk teeth, is individual for each child. But temporary teeth fall out in approximately the same order as they appeared. The permanent first molars appear first. There is no milk analogue for these teeth, because in a small child’s jaw there was simply not enough space for them. The baby grows, the gaps in the dentition increase and the first adult teeth appear in the mouth - the so-called “sixes”. After the molars have erupted, it is time to replace the baby teeth with permanent ones. Loss occurs, as a rule, in the same order as appearance.

Which teeth fall out first in kittens?

The kitten's incisors will be the first to fall out. The process takes place in three to four months. If the kitten is not sick with anything and is well fed, then the change of teeth occurs normally, without any complications. Experts advise feeding animals meat (solid food), then they will not develop plaque on their teeth and, as a result, will not develop tartar.

Milk teeth in kittens

The procedure and timing of changing baby teeth to permanent ones

When does it make sense to wait for the first permanent teeth to appear? As we said above, the first molars to erupt are the teeth that are not included in the primary set. This happens around the age of six. The next ones to wait for are the front teeth, which displace the milk teeth. Tooth loss in children

It begins with the temporary root gradually resolving, making room for the permanent tooth. The baby tooth becomes loose, falls out, and very soon your child will be able to boast a real, adult set of teeth.

How does changing teeth affect a puppy's health?

Teething in puppies is usually painless for them. Puppies, like a child, when he is teething, in order to relieve the itching in his gums, drag various toys into the oral cavity or gnaw everything around him. To relieve itching, pet stores sell special toys or tendon bones.

In some cases, when the first teeth appear, there may be a slight increase in body temperature, lethargy, decreased appetite (loss of appetite in the dog) and, as an exception, diarrhea.

Tooth loss chart

Here is an approximate order of loss of temporary teeth, which is preceded by the resorption of their roots:

• the roots of the upper and lower central incisors begin to decrease from 4-5 years. As a rule, this process lasts about two years and they fall out by the age of 6-7 years;
• the upper and lower lateral incisors become loose from the age of six and their permanent analogues should be expected at the age of 7-8 years;
• The first molars above and below can be prepared for replacement within three years. The process of root resorption begins at the age of 7 and permanent ones appear by the age of 9-11;
• next in line are the upper and lower canines. The root dissolves starting at the age of eight and children show off new fangs by the age of 9-12;
• The second molars complete the process of tooth replacement. Baby teeth will fall out around the tenth year of life.

Timing of permanent teeth eruption

Permanent teeth in children erupt in the same order as baby teeth:

• central incisors above and below: permanent teeth appear in first-graders - at 6-7 years from below and at 7-8 years from above;
• the lateral incisors on both jaws change to permanent ones at 7-9 years of age;
• permanent first premolars appear by 6-11 years, and second ones should be expected no earlier than 10-12 years;
• at the age of nine to twelve, the upper and lower canines appear;
• The appearance of molars usually begins at the age of six and ends at the age of 21, when the third molars erupt.

Please note: the information above is approximate, and if your baby's teeth are not appearing on schedule, there is no reason to worry. In some children, permanent dentition forms earlier, in others - later. In any case, by the time they reach adulthood, most teenagers can already boast a full set of permanent teeth, and all that remains is to wait for the “eights” - wisdom teeth. However, more and more often, recently, wisdom teeth do not appear at all, as they are rudimentary and practically do not participate in the chewing process.

Features of dental development in cats and cats

By the age of eight months, the animal’s jaw is fully formed. An adult, no matter what gender, has 30 teeth.

At its core, a cat's teeth are a tool for cutting food. This is due to the fact that a cat is a predatory animal, and its main food is rodents and small animals. It is this fact that determines that cat teeth are very sharp; they can easily “cut” meat.

A cat's tooth consists of several parts:

• The pulp is a centered hollow cavity filled with capillaries containing nerve endings. This part is designed to nourish bone tissue.
• Dentine is a highly mineralized substance that fills the maximum space from the pulp to the outer shell. Dentin is essentially the base for the tooth. It is a hard material, but very sensitive. Prone to rapid destruction if the top protective layer is damaged.
• Enamel is a white shell that covers the outside of the tooth. It is not connected to nerves, so it has no sensitivity. Enamel is a complete protection against the negative effects of various factors. When this layer is abraded, eating causes pain.

  Strong teeth are very important for a predator like a cat.

A cat's age can be easily determined by the condition of its teeth. Upon reaching 5–6 years of age, the animal has severely worn incisors, and the enamel turns yellow or even turns brown. Upon reaching 10–12 years of age, the animal is most often left without fangs.

At what age do baby teeth appear?

A newborn baby has no teeth. This fact is influenced by eating behavior. The kitten eats only mother's milk. If babies were born with teeth, this could injure the cat's nipples.

It is considered normal for a kitten to have all of its baby teeth before six weeks of age. They erupt in a certain sequence, if there are no pathological abnormalities.

Table: order of eruption of baby teeth in a kitten

Age	Type of teeth	Number on the lower jaw	Number on the upper jaw
2–3 weeks	incisors	6	6
3–4 weeks	fangs	2	2
3–6 weeks	premolars	6	4

The total number of primary teeth is 26.

After the change, the cat's dentition is replenished with four molars

The difference from permanent teeth is not only in quantity, but also in color. The enamel is so white that it appears shiny. The first fangs are very thin and curved. On their inner side there is a second tooth, which disappears after replacing these teeth.

Milk fangs are incredibly sharp

It should be noted that kittens have teeth of amazing sharpness.

Loss of baby teeth and appearance of molars

The replacement of baby teeth with molars occurs gradually:

• The age of 3–4 months is the period when teeth begin to change. First, the incisors must be replaced. They will become the first permanent teeth.
• 4–5 months is the period of changing fangs. Immediately after them, the premolars are replaced.
• 4–6 months is the period of appearance of molars. It is noteworthy that they do not have dairy predecessors.

Knowing the timing of replacing baby teeth with molars, you can determine the age of the kitten.

The entire milk line changes by 6 months. It is rare, but there is a delay in shifts until the age of 9 months. This is not considered a deviation.

It is impossible to miss the moment of changing baby teeth to molars. It corresponds to certain symptoms:

• saliva is released profusely;
• gums become swollen;
• the pet tries to chew everything it comes across;
• rubs its muzzle with its paws;
• An unpleasant and pungent odor comes from the mouth.

The loss of a baby tooth can happen without the owner noticing anything. The kitten can even eat it with food.

I had several cats. All of them were taken from the street as kittens. I did not notice any pronounced symptoms in any of them indicating the change of baby teeth. True, from several pets, their baby fangs, found during cleaning, remained as a souvenir. I don’t know where the rest of the milk teeth went.

Peculiarities of teeth change in cats and male cats of different breeds

The development of kittens belonging to different breeds varies. This also applies to teeth.

British and Scots

Kittens of the British and Scottish breeds (both fold and straight) develop according to accepted standards. According to the breeders' rules, babies go for sale when they reach 3 months of age. The cat's teeth will begin to change after about 30 days of being in the new owner's house.

The peculiarity of these breeds is that the milk teeth have not fallen out, but the molars have already grown under them. The canines are at risk, followed by the incisors. As soon as a kitten notices signs of inflammation of the periodontal part on soft tissues or remains of primary teeth with grown permanent ones, you should immediately visit a veterinarian. If primary teeth begin to rot, the kitten’s oral cavity will be exposed to pathogenic microbes. Even as an adult, a cat may subsequently suffer from diseases of the teeth and gums.

A missing baby tooth can cause chronic gum disease in a cat as an adult.

Kittens of Siamese and Thai breeds

Among Siamese and Thais, special attention is paid to the canines, since in these breeds their structure differs in length and thickness. Consequently, fangs grow more slowly. Here it is important to make sure that during the process of growing the permanent ones, the milk ones fall out. Siamese kittens do not suffer from delayed teething. The upper and lower canines should be replaced before 6 weeks of age. There is no need to worry if the baby fang has fallen out and the permanent one is not yet growing. It will cut through without problems in standard time.

Bengal cats

Heredity directly affects the formation of a Bengal kitten. Typically, a baby's teeth begin to change at the age of 5 months. Accelerated shedding can occur, but this is rare and is genetic. That is, baby teeth will fall out a little earlier than permanent teeth erupt. But before the age of 6 months, the molars must emerge. Then you don't have to worry. If this does not happen, then there may be a lack of microelements in the kitten’s body. In this case, problems with the coat will simultaneously arise. The pet owner should consult a veterinarian.

Sphinxes

Sphynx cats change their teeth between 3 and 6 months of age. The characteristics of the breed dictate their conditions, affecting the delay in the loss and growth of fangs. The molars will not erupt until the baby teeth fall out. Veterinarians note that due to the characteristics of the breed, the baby canine can grow only after one year.

Sphynx cats often suffer from jaw problems even as adults. There are frequent cases of owners complaining about the small size of their fangs.

The owner of the Sphynx should closely monitor the process of changing teeth in his pet

Change of teeth in a Maine Coon kitten

The Maine Coon is a large cat. Dental problems are quite common in this breed. The period of their change can extend up to the age of 8 months. Generally accepted norms say that a Maine Coon is considered a kitten up to 15 months. Consequently, molars can take up to a year to grow. The main thing is to pay attention to the fact that the teeth have parallel rows. The correct bite for a Maine Coon is a scissor bite. It is highly recommended that you buy your kitten plenty of toys to help him scratch his gums. Maine Coons have the temperament of dogs and often, when playing around, chew wires, shoes and can damage furniture.

Siberian cats

Although the kittens of Siberian cats are large in size, their teeth change as standard. If there is a delay, it means that feeding requires more balance. Sometimes males or the largest kittens can delay the change of teeth by 4 weeks from normal.

Table: what teeth does the permanent row consist of?

Upper jaw	Tooth name	Quantity
	Fang	2
	Cutter	6
	Premolars	6
	Molars	2
Lower jaw	Fang	2
	Cutter	6
	Premolars	4
	Molars	2

An adult cat normally has 30 teeth.

Video: cat's baby teeth

Early tooth loss

The time of tooth loss depends on the individual characteristics of the child’s body. However, premature tooth loss can be dangerous. The thing is that if a baby tooth is missing for a long time, then the neighboring teeth move, and there is simply no room left for the permanent one, which begins to grow in due course. This situation can cause a violation of the correct bite, distort the dentition and require long-term treatment by an orthodontist.

What causes premature tooth loss in children:

• various injuries;
• periodontal diseases;
• caries;
• infectious diseases suffered by a child in preschool age.

If a baby tooth has fallen out, and its permanent replacement is not expected soon, consult a dentist. In modern dentistry, there are special designs - plates that do not allow neighboring teeth to move and preserve space for a permanent tooth. Such systems do not injure tooth enamel, do not involve grinding of teeth and do not interfere with the baby while talking and eating.

Caring for a kitten during the period of teeth change

The period of changing teeth can really become a test for an inexperienced owner. However, it is necessary to understand that the animal is not sick, does not need to take medications and constant visits from veterinarians. Most often, for a cat, everything happens, if not unnoticed, then at least painlessly.

There is no need to allow the kitten to chew furniture, spoil things, and especially not to bite and scratch you. In the future, this habit could become a really serious problem. Changing teeth is a natural process for an animal; therefore, the initially established rules of behavior must be preserved.

However, the task of every responsible owner is to make this period easier for the animal, take care of proper nutrition, brushing teeth and the availability of special toys.

Special food

A kitten needs proper and complete nutrition . However, despite the abundance of food created specifically for the period of teeth change, the animal may react negatively to a sudden change in food. Therefore, you need to ensure that your pet has the necessary vitamins and supplements in its diet, thanks to which permanent teeth will grow strong.

There are nutritional principles that must be followed when a kitten’s teeth change:

1. First of all, you need to avoid overly soft food: kittens can swallow lost teeth along with soft food, which can lead to damage to the esophagus. The food should be large and slightly rough. Regular dry food for kittens is ideal.

   Dry food is the best option during teeth change

   Read also:  Removal of baby teeth in children: causes, features and indications
2. Large pieces of meat (beef, turkey, chicken, rabbit) scalded or boiled, cut into small pieces, are also ideal for a kitten.
3. You need to include cottage cheese and other fermented milk products that are rich in calcium in your diet.
4. The kitten needs calcium and phosphorus; they can be given as supplements to the main diet. At the pet store you can find both drops and small tablets that can be added to food. Such supplements also contain a little analgesic so that the kitten does not experience severe pain.
5. A maximum of twice a week, you can give your kitten low-fat boiled sea fish, for example, hake. However, you should not overuse fish, even though it is rich in phosphorus.
6. Meat or fish should be given mixed with cereals: oatmeal, buckwheat or rice. It is also useful to add some vegetables, such as carrots, zucchini or pumpkin, both raw and boiled.
7. The diet should also include sufficient amounts of vitamins A and D.
8. The kitten will try to chew everything, including your things, so it’s worth purchasing special bones. They contain the necessary vitamin supplements, and in fact the kitten gets the opportunity not only to strengthen its teeth, but also the necessary amount of vitamins supplied with saliva.

   Bones are an important part of the diet and serve to prevent the kitten from chewing your things.

Veterinarians advise not to mix natural food (meat, fish, vegetables, etc.) and dry food. If you switched your kitten to dry food at an early age, then you should stick to it. The fact is that these types of food are digested differently, and when mixed, the kitten may experience bloating or even colic.

When choosing a feeding method, you should consult a veterinarian: each pet is individual, many may not be suitable for dry or natural food

Vaccination during the period of teeth change

Very often, owners are faced with an important question: is it possible to get vaccinations or other vaccinations while changing teeth? Veterinarians speak out unequivocally - changing teeth is already a serious burden for a kitten. Against the backdrop of fever and pain, getting vaccinated can be dangerous. This not only adversely affects the kitten’s immune system, but also leads to stunted growth of the animal.

Vaccination during the period of teeth change is not recommended.

It is important to follow the vaccination schedule for your pets as prescribed by your doctor. The vaccination schedule is set individually, taking into account the age characteristics of the body and physiological state.

My kitten was scheduled for the first vaccination very late. This was due to the fact that he was found on the street and many tests had to be done to assess his health. The time for his vaccination was due to change his teeth, so it had to be postponed for a while (until the temperature passed and slight inflammation of the gums subsided).

Teeth cleaning

Many owners ignore brushing their teeth. However, constant oral care will help keep your animal's teeth strong. It is necessary to accustom your cat to brushing its teeth from the early months of life so that in the future it will adequately perceive this procedure. If the cat refuses to accept traditional brushing with a toothbrush or powder, pet stores sell special gels for disinfecting the oral cavity. You can combine them with special foods and vitamins that include coarse fibers. It is recommended to brush your teeth once every three to four weeks.

Brushing your teeth is an important procedure that your kitten needs to be accustomed to.

During the change of teeth, kittens' gums can become inflamed, so you need to purchase a gel that also contains an anesthetic and anti-inflammatory, which can greatly alleviate your pet's condition.

Delay in loss of primary teeth

Your child is finishing school, but some of his baby teeth have not yet been replaced by permanent ones? It is worth making an appointment at a dental clinic. Temporary teeth that remain in their places for too long are a sign that there are disturbances in the functioning of the child’s body.

Late tooth loss can be caused by:

• abnormal location of the permanent tooth germ;
• regular stress;
• malnutrition and lack of vitamins and microelements;
• chronic diseases.

Do you want your child to have straight and healthy permanent teeth? Do not neglect preventive examinations at the dentist twice a year.

What to do if your teeth are uneven

Later or premature loss of baby teeth, individual characteristics of jaw development, trauma and many other factors lead to disruption of the position of the teeth. There is no need to worry too much if the emerging permanent teeth do not form a perfectly even row. Contact your orthodontist. Modern dental technologies make it possible to achieve a perfect smile with the help of braces or aligners. A child's jaw is still in the process of formation. Timely treatment is the key to quick and high-quality results.

What should parents do?

Losing primary teeth is a completely natural process and most often it is not accompanied by pain or complications. Nevertheless, in order to be sure of the baby’s health, you should follow a few simple rules:

• The teeth should fall out on their own. Do not pull out a tooth that has begun to loosen - you may accidentally damage a root that has not yet completely resolved and it will remain in the gum. You can help a tooth only if it really “hangs by one thread.” It’s even better if the tooth is removed by a pediatric dentist;
• After a tooth falls out, the wound may bleed. Give your baby a sterile gauze swab and ask him to bite down firmly - the bleeding will stop in a few minutes. Try not to feed your child for a couple of hours after losing a tooth. For the same period, you should give up hot, sour and salty foods;
• When changing teeth, it is very important to visit the dentist once every six months for preventive examinations. Your doctor will assess the general condition of your teeth and give recommendations on how to care for your baby and permanent teeth;
• Even though baby teeth are temporary, their condition must be treated very carefully. The health of temporary teeth directly affects the health of permanent teeth.

With each new permanent tooth, your child becomes more mature. Attentive attention to oral hygiene and regular dental checkups can give your child one of the main decorations: a healthy and beautiful smile.

A child’s baby tooth has fallen out: what to do?

There is usually no pain after prolapse, despite bleeding. If the baby is afraid of blood, he needs to be calmed down. To stop it, you need to make a tampon from a bandage or sterile cotton wool and apply it to the gum. In a few minutes everything will pass. It is advisable not to feed or water the child for 2-3 hours. For aseptic treatment of a wound in the mouth, a solution of salt, soda, iodine is suitable, which should be used to rinse the oral cavity several times.

If you are just expecting this exciting event, try to prepare your child for it in advance. Tell him what awaits him and why this happens, come up with an interesting ritual associated, for example, with receiving a gift or sweets in exchange for a lost tooth.