Definition & Meaning of "milk tooth"

What is a "milk tooth"?

A milk tooth, also known as a baby tooth or deciduous tooth, refers to the set of temporary teeth that emerge in the mouths of infants and young children. These teeth typically begin to appear around six months of age and continue to erupt until the age of two or three. Milk teeth serve important functions, such as aiding in chewing, speech development, and providing space for permanent teeth to grow. Over time, they naturally fall out to make way for the eruption of permanent teeth. Milk teeth are generally smaller and whiter than permanent teeth and are eventually replaced by them during the natural process of dental development.