Why do children change their baby teeth?
Mom, I lost my tooth!
It's often around the age of 6 that baby teeth begin to fall out. A moment that combines pride, excitement... and sometimes a little visit from the famous tooth fairy, depending on the culture. But behind this tradition, one question remains: why do we change our teeth when they are so hard and our bodies have spent so much energy making them?
Is this an evolutionary bug?
Not at all! It's not a bug, it's a perfectly thought-out plan by nature.
In humans, as in many mammals (cats, dogs, etc.), we speak of diphyodontia : two generations of teeth, baby teeth then permanent teeth.
Why? Because a baby's jaw is far too small to directly accommodate the large adult teeth. Baby teeth therefore allow:
- To eat and speak from a young age
- To let the jaw grow gradually
- To ensure a smooth transition to permanent teeth
💡 It's not a bug, but a learning process. Baby teeth also help you learn good oral hygiene habits before your permanent teeth, the ones you keep for life, come in.
What about other mammals?
Some animals never change their teeth: they are called monophyodonts . For example:
- The dolphins
- Some rodents
- Marsupials like the kangaroo
In their case, teeth erupt only once and grow at the same time as the jaw. This system is adapted to their dietary needs and lifespan. In us humans, jaw growth and the diversity of our diet require two successive sets of teeth.
The importance of good hygiene from baby teeth onwards
Although they are temporary, baby teeth play a crucial role. A cavity in a baby tooth can cause:
- Pains
- Infections
- Alignment problems for permanent teeth
✅ Suitable toothbrush + fluoride toothpaste = the winning combination.
Fluoride helps strengthen the enamel of baby teeth and also protects future permanent teeth.
👉 Brushing baby teeth properly is an investment in adult teeth!
📚 Sources:
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) – Guideline on Fluoride Use in Caries Prevention
Fejerskov O., Nyvad B., Kidd E. – Dental Caries: The Disease and Its Clinical Management (Wiley-Blackwell)
Logan WHG, Kronfeld R. – Development of the Human Jaws and Surrounding Structures
