How many baby teeth does a child have?

Just as with permanent teeth, baby teeth play an extremely important role in a child's development. Baby teeth: Save space for the permanent teeth that come in later; Give babies' faces a normal appearance; Help kids learn to speak clearly; Help provide permanent teeth with a “healthy start” since damage to baby teeth can have bad effects on permanent ones; Five Tips for When Your Child Loses Baby Teeth. Primary teeth usually stay in children’s mouths until age six. read more

Primary teeth are smaller in size and whiter in color than the permanent teeth that will follow. By the time a child is 2 to 3 years of age, all primary teeth should have erupted. Shortly after age 4, the jaw and facial bones of the child begin to grow, creating spaces between the primary teeth. read more

The first baby teeth appear between the ages of 6 months and 1 year. The full set of 20 teeth is typically present by 2 1/2 to 3 years of age. Your child will have 10 teeth on both the upper and lower jaw. The baby teeth will begin to fall out when your child is about 6, signaling that the permanent teeth behind them are ready to appear. read more