November 2007

Question:Why do we lose teeth and grow new ones?
—Ellen R., Missouri

Answer: Your first set of teeth grows in when you are about 6 months old. These baby teeth, or deciduous (dih-SIH-joo-us) teeth, grow in at a size that fits your jawbone at that time.

As you get older, most parts of your body-including your jawboneŃcontinue to grow. But your teeth stay the same size. Eventually, your baby teeth become too small for your larger jaw.

Between 6 and 12 years of age, you grow a new set of teeth that push out your baby teeth. These adult teeth are larger-the perfect size for your bigger jawbone.

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