When a child’s permanent “adult” teeth erupt, the baby teeth begin to loosen and fall out.
Most children start losing teeth around the age of 6. The front teeth are usually the first to fall out. The molars (the larger teeth at the back of the mouth) usually fall out between the ages of 10 and 12.
If your child has a loose tooth and it bothers him or her, you may want to consider pulling the baby tooth. When can you do this without harming your child?
When can we pull out baby teeth?
Very often, baby teeth fall out on their own. Children usually loosen teeth by themselves.
When a tooth starts to loosen, it becomes mobile, and only a small amount of tissue holds it in place. This usually makes it easier for children to have their teeth extracted. However, if a loose tooth bothers your child, they may ask you to pull it.
It is recommended to pulls your child tooth solely without professional assistance in the following cases:
- the child is 6 years old or older;
- the tooth is very loose and does not hold firmly;
- the tooth is not loose due to caries or trauma.
You should not pull a tooth if it is slightly loose and holds firmly. If you pull out such a tooth, the socket may bleed heavily and hurt.
It is also important to understand that premature extraction of baby teeth can lead to crooked adult teeth later on.
If you are not sure that you can remove a baby tooth yourself, take your child to the dentist.
What is the best way to remove baby teeth?
A baby tooth should only be extracted when it is very loose and can be removed with minimal effort and discomfort.
Encourage your child to gently move the tooth with his or her tongue to loosen it further. This can make the process of pulling it out easier. However, it is not advisable for your child to loosen the tooth with his or her fingers, as this can spread bacteria in the mouth and increase the risk of infection.
Eating solid foods, such as carrots or apples, will help loosen a baby tooth and even get rid of it. Remember to make sure that your child does not swallow the baby tooth. It is unlikely that a child will have long-term consequences from swallowing a tooth, but it is worth seeing a doctor (dentist) just in case.
As a rule of thumb, a tooth is ready for extraction when it can be moved in all directions – from front to back and side to side – without causing discomfort to your child.
Here are some signs that it may be time to help your child with a loose tooth:
- The tooth moves easily when touched or when your child wiggles it with his or her tongue;
- an ‘adult’ tooth is already appearing behind the baby tooth and pushing it up;
- the baby tooth has been loose for several weeks;
- the child complains of a loose tooth that interferes with eating or talking.
It is usually best to let the teeth fall out on their own. However, if your son or daughter needs help getting rid of a baby tooth, you can do so in the following ways.
If your child is worried that it will hurt, place a clean ice pack on the gum near the tooth for a few minutes to numb it. Then use a clean cloth, gauze or a piece of paper towel to press down on the tooth. Twist the tooth quickly but gently until it falls out.
What you should not do:
- do not tie a string around the tooth to pull it out, as this is a dangerous way;
- do not twist the tooth for a long time: if it takes more than one or two turns to pull the tooth out, the tooth is not loose enough;
- stop the manipulation immediately if the child is in pain.
Proper post-extraction care at home is key to recovery and includes maintaining good oral hygiene, applying a cold compress to reduce swelling if necessary, and monitoring for signs of infection.
If bleeding occurs after tooth extraction, stop it by pressing the gums with sterile gauze. Also check if there are any fragments of the baby tooth left in the child’s mouth. Take your child to the dentist if he or she feels uncomfortable or if you see redness in the gum area.
Remember that the process of tooth loss is individual for each child. If you are not sure whether it is time for an at-home tooth extraction or if a tooth seems problematic, it is best to consult a dentist.
When does a child need dental care
We recommend visiting a dentist in the following cases:
- the baby tooth is slightly loose, but has not become loose or fallen out for 6 months or longer;
- the child has lost most of the baby teeth, but one or more do not fall out;
- the child complains of pain or has signs of infection in the mouth;
- the tooth is loose after an injury.