Step 1: Don’t try to yank it out!
When your kid comes to you with a loose tooth, your first instinct might be to try to pull it out. But jokes about tying teeth to doors or grabbing the pliers from the garage aside, it’s usually better to wait for the tooth to fall out on its own.
Trying to pull out a tooth before it’s ready to come out can cause unnecessary pain, bleeding, and even infection. It can also be scary for kids.
Instead of attempting to pull out a loose tooth, encourage your child to wiggle the tooth around to help loosen it enough to fall out on its own. Most kids delight in wiggling a loose tooth (especially when it grosses out their parents or siblings), so motivating them shouldn’t be a problem.
Once a baby tooth falls out, it could take a few weeks to a few months before a new, permanent tooth is fully grown. Sometimes, a permanent tooth can start growing behind a baby tooth, which can cause crowding and alignment issues. In this case, consider bringing your child in for an exam so we can determine whether the baby tooth needs to be pulled.
Most kids lose their first tooth around age 6 or 7. It’s a completely normal part of their growth and development. If your child’s tooth is accidentally knocked loose, though, consider scheduling an exam so we can check for any risk of infection or potential damage to permanent teeth. According to a study cited by the Colgate Oral Care Center, kids who have a baby tooth knocked out could have developmental problems, such as discoloration and enamel deficiency, in the permanent tooth that replaces it.
Are You Searching For An Experienced Dentist In The Martinsburg Area For Your Children?
If you’re searching for an experienced dentist to help protect your children’s dental and oral health please feel free to contact us online or call our Martinsburg, West Virginia dental office directly at 304.267.6059 to schedule your appointment. We provide a wide range of general dentistry care as well as more involved dentistry services for patients throughout the Martinsburg area and look forward to you joining the Cornerstone Dental family.
