Although the primary teeth are going to fall out eventually, taking care of them is still very important because your child will need to keep them for first 5 – 6 years before the adult teeth will erupt. Typically, the first tooth starts erupting at the age of 6 months. The first two teeth are usually the front two incisors in the lower jaw. The lateral incisors, the front four teeth on the top, start appearing at the age of 9 to 13 months. After that, the teeth continue to erupt in order to fill the space. By the time 20^th tooth erupts, the age of the child is usually 3 years and a few months. At the age of 6 – 7 years, the child gets the mouth full of all the teeth which need to erupt.

A few facts are worth mentioning in this regard.

• A general rule is that 4 teeth erupt after every six months in the initial years.
• Girls get their teeth sooner as compared to boys.
• The eruption of lower teeth usually occurs before the upper teeth.
• The teeth erupt in pairs in both jaws, i.e. one on the left and one on the right.
• The primary teeth are smaller and whiter as compared to permanent teeth.
• All of the primary teeth erupt at the age of 2 – 3 years.

The growth of facial bones generally starts after the age of 4 years. This growth enhances the gap between primary teeth, creating a room for the permanent teeth to come in.