Are your child’s baby teeth taking longer to fall out? As parents, we worry about every unusual thing happening to our children, be it walking late, crawling late, or baby teeth taking longer to fall out. It’s okay to worry about these things rather than sitting around to wait for a miracle to happen. Read this blog to learn why your child’s teeth take longer to fall out and when you should see a pediatric dentist.
When Do Children Start Losing Teeth?
Children often lose their first tooth between the ages of 6 and 7. Up until the age of twelve, children will continue to lose their baby teeth. However, it’s possible that some children lose their baby teeth sooner or later than others, and in most cases, this is not a cause of concern.
It’s important to speak with your pediatric dentist if your child’s tooth falls out before the age of 5 or if no teeth have fallen out beyond the age of seven. Orthodontic problems can arise from early or extremely late infant tooth loss.
Reasons Behind Why Your Child’s Teeth Not Falling Out?
Here are a few reasons why your child’s teeth taking longer to fall out:
- Overcrowded Baby Teeth Permanent teeth may not be able to properly push through the gum line, which causes the roots of the baby teeth to disintegrate if the baby teeth are overcrowded in the mouth.Sometimes, there isn’t enough room for the permanent teeth to emerge normally due to moderate to severe crowding. They are unable to force out the infant teeth if they erupt sideways or get impacted.
- Delayed Development It’s a possibility that some children may have delayed tooth development, which will make their baby teeth to stick a little longer.
- Dental Trauma If your child’s baby teeth have been injured or damaged in any way, it may not fall out in time.
- Shark Teeth When a child’s baby teeth do not fall out, but instead, their new permanent teeth erupt; this is referred to as shark teeth. Children with shark teeth may end up with rows of teeth resembling a shark, with the newly erected teeth often located closest to the tongue.
What to Do When Your Child’s Teeth Won’t Fall Out?
As soon as your child turns six, take them to a pediatric dentist. The baby teeth should start to fall out at this age. Nonetheless, parents shouldn’t be concerned about postponed tooth loss unless:
- Crowding results from permanent teeth not having adequate space. They might not be able to remove the baby teeth that are covering them.
- Extra teeth might impede the regular emergence of permanent teeth. The orthodontist can determine if your kid is truly experiencing difficulties or if they are simply maturing slowly with a simple X-ray.
- Baby teeth may stick for a much longer period if there are no underlying permanent teeth replacements.
Final Say!
It’s okay to be concerned about child’s oral health, like delayed baby teeth falling out. Your child’s baby teeth may not be falling out because of overcrowded baby teeth, dental trauma, or shark teeth.
You can consult our expert pediatric dentist, Dr. Dean, at KC Kids Dental for further queries. Book your appointment by calling (816) 670-3450.
