Why do baby teeth fall out?
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Transcript
Have you ever felt a wiggly baby tooth and wondered why it falls out?
Baby teeth help you bite and talk while your mouth is small. They are the right size for you now.
Many grown-up teeth grow under the baby teeth. As they move up, the baby tooth's little roots get smaller.
With tiny roots, a baby tooth gets wiggly and comes out. The grown-up tooth can then take its place.
So that's why baby teeth fall out. Your mouth is making room for bigger grown-up teeth!
For grown-ups: the science
Baby teeth fall out because bigger grown-up teeth move in to take their places.
Primary teeth are temporary teeth sized for a young child's jaw. Most permanent successor teeth develop beneath them; as they erupt, the roots of the primary teeth are gradually resorbed, making the teeth loose until they shed. Permanent molars are an exception because they erupt behind the baby teeth rather than replacing one.