Much like how the new year is the time to say goodbye to the previous year, there comes a time for children to say goodbye to their baby teeth and make room for new ones to grow in! Baby teeth are extremely important to your child’s health, which is why it is important to maintain proper dental hygiene. This is why we, at Bumgardner Family Dental, want to help you learn more about losing baby teeth and how to make the process smooth.
When do kids start losing baby teeth?
Baby teeth fall out naturally when adult teeth become exposed through the gums and push the smaller teeth up and out. Children usually begin losing teeth around 6 or 7 years old, continuing over the next few years from the front teeth to the back molars. The process ends with the molars around the age of 10 or 12.
Additionally, it’s typically nothing to worry about if your child loses teeth before or after this duration of time. But, if you’re worried about your child’s teeth falling out too early or taking too long, you can visit us at Bumgardner Family Dental to address these concerns.
When and how should I pull a loose baby tooth?
It is recommended to let baby teeth fall out on their own. And because baby teeth are pushed out naturally by incoming adult teeth, this is often pretty easy to do!
Teeth that are ready to fall out won’t need much assistance. If your child’s tooth is loose, it can often fall out after just moving it around with their tongue. Kids may lose a tooth just doing a regular activity and not even realize it! However, some kids get worried or scared about pulling a tooth.
If your child is worried about pain or wants your help pulling their tooth:
This is what you should do:
- With a clean tissue, piece of paper towel, or gauze, gently grab the tooth.
- Twist and (hopefully not) shout! Gently twist the tooth, and after a few quick twists, it should fall right out!
- There may be some minor bleeding. If so, apply wet gauze or a piece of paper towel to stop the bleeding.
And this is what NOT to do:
- If your child is in pain, or the tooth isn’t coming out after a few twists, the tooth may not be ready to fall out yet. If this is the case, do not keep pulling.
- While there are tons of “creative” ways people remove their teeth online, these are not recommended. They can often cause pain or damage your gums.
What if a tooth is knocked out?
Kids will be kids, and the likelihood of them knocking out a tooth while they play is very likely. Unless the tooth was already very loose before, you should treat this type of scenario the same way you would for an adult tooth. Because the tooth may not have been ready to fall out, there may be damage or pain caused by the hit that a dentist should assess. When a baby tooth is knocked out before it’s ready, it can cause the adult tooth to grow in early or even crooked. This can cause overcrowding of the mouth in the future.
Losing a Baby Tooth Leads to Bigger Smiles
It is normal to be worried about your child’s smile and their discomfort when their tooth is loose! However, our team at Bumgardner Family Dental is here for you and your child to provide them with the pediatric dental services needed for a healthy smile. So, if your child is having any pain with a loose tooth, or if you are experiencing similar pains, give us a call at (337) 896-3062 to schedule an appointment.
