It seems like just as soon as children develop all their baby teeth, they start to lose them! Most babies have a full set of 28 baby teeth by the age of 3 and they start to lose those teeth by age 6 or 7, starting with their incisors. Of course, their bodies are just preparing them for the future with permanent adult teeth!
Wiggly teeth can be quite uncomfortable for kids. As a new tooth emerges, the old tooth must literally be ripped from the roots. Since the tooth still affects the nerve, this can make eating difficult and even painful.
Every child is different, but for most, wiggly teeth will fall out on their own in a few weeks. Some children will have no problem pulling their own teeth out, but others may need a little help. According to our Diamond Bar pediatric dentist at Hacienda Pediatric Dentistry, permanent teeth may have a hard time erupting if there are baby teeth in the way. This can result in crooked teeth, impacted teeth, snaggle teeth, or gaps. Redness or swelling are major indicators that it’s time for that baby tooth to go.
If your child’s loose tooth is being stubborn or causing discomfort, you may want to take matters into your own hands! Here is how to pull out a loose tooth safely and effectively:
Make sure the tooth is ready to go
When a baby tooth overstays its welcome in your child’s mouth, it can be painful to eat and permanent teeth may develop incorrectly. On the flip side, pulling out a baby tooth too early can be scary and traumatic for kids. Done incorrectly, it can even be dangerous, leading to damaged tissue and infection.
Often, your child’s tooth just needs some extra time. Encourage them to brush their teeth after each meal and practice wiggling the tooth a little every day. This will slowly but safely allow the tooth to loosen from the roots and fall naturally. Just because your child’s tooth isn’t falling out at the same time as other children’s teeth are, doesn’t mean that you need to take action right away. All children are different!
If a loose tooth is really bothering your little one, ask your child if they are ready to remove their loose tooth before you do anything drastic. Pulling a tooth without your child’s consent can cause them to lose trust in you and dental professionals. After all, pulling a tooth can be painful even when done correctly.
Sanitize, sanitize, sanitize!
When you pull a loose tooth, there could be vulnerable tissue exposed. You’ll want to make sure no bacteria enter the “wound” left behind. Make sure to wash your hands and whatever tools are involved. You may want to have clean gauze ready in case there is some bleeding. Rinsing with saltwater and antiseptic mouthwash can also reduce the risk of infection.
Less is more
There are a lot of creative new ways that parents have come up with to pull out their children’s teeth. We don’t recommend any of them. Attaching your child’s tooth to a door, car, skateboard, etc. can be extremely dangerous. These methods probably won’t work and they could hurt your child.
Instead, grab a tissue and hold your child’s tooth. Wiggle it back and forth a few times to see if you can loosen it from the roots. Then, swiftly pull the tooth away from the gums in one motion. The deed will be done before your child even knows it!
This is a fast, simple, and easy process. Congratulate your child on the tooth and have them rinse their mouths afterward.
Call the tooth fairy
One fun tradition that your kids may enjoy is a visit from the tooth fairy. They will get rewarded for braving the loss of a baby tooth with a quarter or dollar. This will make your child less apprehensive and perhaps even excited whenever they get a wiggly tooth!
See your pediatric dentist near Diamond Bar
If you can’t seem to get that loose tooth removed, book an appointment with our pediatric dentist at Hacienda Pediatric Dentistry. We provide pediatric dental services for Diamond Bar, Hacienda Heights, Whittier, and Walnut patients.
Dr. Sheu is great with kids and she can walk your child through the process of extracting a loose tooth. The office is equipped with kid-sized tools that make it easy to operate on younger patients who have smaller mouths and bodies. Your child won’t even feel our dentist removing the tooth! To make an appointment, give us a call at 626-257-7835 or leave us a message on our contact page.