Why do our teeth fall out?

One day you bite into an apple and — wobble! One of your teeth is loose. It feels strange, but do not worry. Losing a tooth is a happy sign that you are growing up.

Your first little teeth

When you were a baby, small teeth pushed up through your gums. These are called milk teeth. They are just the right size for a little mouth, and they help you chew and smile.

But as you grow, your mouth grows too. Soon those tiny teeth are too small for your bigger jaw.

New teeth push their way up

Hidden under each milk tooth, a bigger grown-up tooth has been quietly growing. When it is ready, it slowly pushes upward.

As the new tooth pushes, it loosens the root of the milk tooth above it. That is why your tooth starts to wobble! At last the little tooth falls out, and the new, stronger tooth takes its place.

Taking care of your teeth

Your grown-up teeth need to last your whole life, so look after them. Brush them twice a day, and try not to eat too much sugary food. Healthy teeth help you chew, talk, and grin.

Wonder fact: You will lose about 20 milk teeth and grow up to 32 grown-up teeth — the very last ones may not appear until you are an adult!