Whether your child has yet to lose the first tooth or has lost several baby teeth, proper dental care is key to ensuring optimal oral health as they grow and develop. Knowing how to care for the mouth after these teeth fall out, when to schedule the right treatments, and what to do at home will make all the difference in a child’s current and future dental health.
Proper Care After the Baby Teeth Fall Out
Losing baby teeth is a milestone event. Aside from leaving money or a toy beneath your child’s pillow and sharing in their excitement about the tooth fairy, there are some steps you will need to take to care for her mouth in the days, weeks, and months that follow. Following simple care guidelines can prevent discomfort after losing baby teeth and promote optimal oral health.
Rinse With Salt Water
Losing a baby tooth and gum bleeding go hand-in-hand. If the bleeding continues for an extended period of time, you can hold a wet tissue or piece of gauze on the gum to add pressure to the area and slow and eventually stop the bleeding. Then, have your child rinse their mouth with warm salt water to help clean the gums and protect the socket.
Allow the Gum To Heal on Its Own
Sometimes, remaining tissue flaps are noticeable after a child loses a tooth. It’s important that these pieces of tissue are left alone so that the body can heal the gum tissue, and any excess tissue can naturally wear away over time. Attempting to manually remove this tissue will cause discomfort.
If anything looks abnormal or your child is experiencing significant pain after losing a tooth, make an appointment with your dentist to have the area evaluated to determine if further treatment is necessary.
Consider Using a Mild Anesthetic
If your child experiences discomfort after losing teeth, consider using a topical or oral anesthetic to help with the pain. If you do choose to use a topical anesthetic, wait until the bleeding has stopped and the gums are clean before applying it.
Establishing and Maintaining Healthy Dental Habits
After your child loses one of the temporary baby teeth, it’s important that you encourage him to continue to brush and floss as normally. Depending on the child’s age, you may need to assist him with dental care to ensure he’s effectively brushing and flossing. Teaching your child the importance of oral hygiene early on is key to setting him up for success.
Have your child brush twice daily to keep her teeth clean and mouth free of bacteria, and floss at least once a day to prevent food and bacteria accumulation between the teeth.
Brush Gently
Even though regular brushing and flossing are important after losing a tooth, you must make sure that your child doesn’t brush too hard and put too much pressure on the gums after losing a tooth. Doing so can cause irritation, inflammation, and, ultimately, discomfort.
Prioritize a Healthy Diet
One of the easiest ways to establish and maintain optimal oral health before and after your child’s temporary baby teeth fall out is by prioritizing a healthy diet. Sugary foods are detrimental to dental health because sugar feeds unhealthy bacteria and can contribute to cavities and other effects of tooth decay.
Limiting sugar in a child’s diet will promote optimal long-term oral health and prevent other dental health conditions. Some of the best foods for children to eat to promote strong teeth and optimal oral health include:
- Crunchy fruits and vegetables
- Lean proteins
- Green leaf vegetables
- Whole grains
- Healthy dairy products, like yogurt and cheese
- Nuts
Schedule Routine Dental Cleanings and Examinations
Another way you can invest in your child’s oral health is by scheduling bi-annual dental examinations. At these appointments, your child will receive prescriptive and preventative treatments. The dentist will also take pictures of her mouth to evaluate underlying permanent teeth that haven’t yet erupted, assess the state of her temporary teeth and oral health, and diagnose any potential issues.
These appointments also include thorough and professional teeth cleaning services, which promote a healthy mouth and rid the mouth of bacteria. Once the dentist evaluates your child’s mouth, he can identify potential issues or cavities and recommend the right treatment protocol.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Do Children Typically Lose Baby Teeth?
Children typically start to lose baby teeth at age five or six and continue to lose them until approximately age 13. This time frame often varies based on when the teeth first erupted, the child’s gender, health, jaw development, nutritional habits, and genetics. Most children will lose all of their temporary teeth between ages six and 13, but for some, tooth loss may begin sooner and end later.
If you’re concerned about the rate at which your child is losing teeth, you can schedule an appointment with our dentist. He can evaluate your child’s x-rays and give you more details about your child’s teeth so you can have peace of mind about this process.
What Should I Do About Overcrowding?
Overcrowding is a common concern among parents whose children begin to lose teeth, and it becomes more noticeable as permanent teeth erupt. Several factors can contribute to overcrowding, including the size of the teeth, the size of the jaw, excess teeth, or losing teeth too early. Orthodontic treatment plans are ideal for children experiencing crowding as they can promote proper speech, prevent jaw dysfunction, minimize the risk of gum disease, and promote optimal oral hygiene.
The most common treatment options for overcrowding include teeth extractions, braces, aligners, palate expanders, and retainers. When you schedule routine examinations for your child, our dentist will give you more details about the best treatment options for overcrowding and recommend when to begin these treatments based on your child’s needs.
When Can I Schedule Sealants?
Sealants are thin coatings that dentists apply to the permanent back teeth to prevent cavities. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces so that plaque and food can’t get into the crevices and cause tooth decay and cavities. Sealants are beneficial for children whose permanent molars and pre-molars have erupted. Getting sealants will help prevent cavities during childhood and into adolescence. If you’re interested in getting sealants for your child, our dentist can evaluate his teeth to determine the best next steps and whether he qualifies as a good candidate.
What Types of Services Do You Offer for Children?
At Cornerstone Dental, we offer dental care for children as early as two years of age. Parents who want to establish a foundation of oral health for their children can visit our office for routine examinations, dental treatments, and emergency care. Other treatments we offer for children include restorative care, sealants, fluoride application, and child prophylaxis (cleaning).
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.
