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child loose tooth in Little Rock

December 28, 2015

To Pull or Not to Pull: How to Handle Your Child’s Loose Baby Tooth

When children get their first loose tooth, it can be a big event in their lives. As a parent, you may be wondering if their loose tooth warrants being pulled.

Finding a loose tooth in your mouth marks a momentous occasion in any child’s life. In fact, you may remember being a kid yourself and watching your parents pull your loose baby teeth. While this is a common practice, any pediatric dentist in Little Rock will tell you that it is not entirely safe. When it comes to your child’s dental health, pulling a loose tooth too soon could affect their future.

When Do Children Lose Baby Teeth?

Children start losing their baby teeth around the age of five or six. Occasionally, a child may lose a tooth at four, or may not lose their first tooth until age eight. If you start noticing your child’s baby teeth becoming loose early, talk to your child’s dentist to make sure their teeth and gums are still healthy.

How does this happen? Well, children usually lose their baby teeth in the order that the teeth arrived. The roots of the baby teeth dissolve within the gums, causing the teeth to get loose and eventually fall out to make their way for permanent teeth.

Should You Pull Your Child’s Loose Tooth?

It is tempting as a parent to help your child with their loose teeth, but you should refrain from doing so. If you pull it too soon before the root can properly dissolve, you risk the chance of injury and infection. The best thing to do is to let nature take its course so the loose tooth can come out by itself. Using this waiting method also causes less pain for your child and produces less scary blood.

Baby teeth can also accidentally become loose due to accidents and falls. If this dental emergency occurs, contact your pediatric dentist immediately to ensure that your child has not experienced an oral injury. Even if all an accident causes is a loose tooth, you should refrain from trying to remove the wiggly tooth.

If the tooth does not come out following an accident, schedule a dentist’s appointment for your child to ensure that there are no possible complications.

Preparing for a Loose Tooth

Most children who lose their baby teeth are excited because it means that they are growing up and get a visit from the Tooth Fairy. Most children are not anxious when they lose their teeth, but if your child is, reassure them that this is normal. By following the proper tooth brushing routine, especially at the gum line, your child will naturally help facilitate the falling out of their baby teeth and the growth of new teeth coming in.

Children often compare notes with other kids their age at school when it comes to losing teeth, so do not be too surprised if your child is actually eager to have their loose baby teeth come out!

When you are looking for the best dental care for children in Little Rock, contact us at Arkansas Family Dental at 501.683.8886. We can answer any questions you have concerning losing and growing teeth and help care for your entire family.

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Filed Under: Dental Health - Children, Dental Services

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