Your child comes running in to show off their wiggly tooth. It’s an exciting moment for both of you, but then you become a little anxious. How will you get that wiggly tooth out without hurting your baby? You may have tied a string to yours as a kid and yanked it, but is that the best way to do things? I mean…OUCH!
Woodhill Dental Specialties knows all about those baby teeth. It’s a natural process for children to shed their baby teeth and make way for permanent ones. But what happens when those teeth don’t come out exactly as they should? Don’t worry! We have the answers.
You may wonder what makes your child’s tooth wiggly in the first place. We all know you lose your baby teeth so the permanent teeth can come in behind them. But do you know how the tooth loosens in the first place? There are two main ways — the natural way or through an unnatural way, such as accident or injury.
Your child’s tooth usually will come out naturally, but how does that happen? Once you figure it out, you’ll be able to figure out the best time to pull the tooth or whether you can just let it fall out on its own.
Your child’s baby teeth are secured to the jaw by the roots. When it’s time for the permanent tooth to come in, the baby tooth’s root will begin to break down. The body absorbs the degrading root, and the tooth begins to loosen.
When is it time to pull the tooth? It’s best to wait for the root to break down completely before you try to remove the tooth. If the tooth wiggles just a bit, it likely is still clinging to the root. It’s not ready to come out. But if the tooth moves back and forth freely and easily, it’s probably ready to go!
Your child’s tooth can come out through unnatural means, specifically through accident or injury. Many parents have felt panic when they see their child accidentally fall on a hard floor or get hit in the face by an object. It’s even scarier when the child comes up with a bloody mouth and a loose tooth.
What do you do if your child’s tooth is damaged in an accident? The first step is not to panic because you need your child to stay calm and act quickly. You need to see if the tooth is loose, chipped, or has fallen out. If it’s a baby tooth that has fallen out, a permanent tooth will come in, so it’s OK for now, but you will need to bring your child to see us. If the permanent tooth won’t come in for a while, we may need to put in a spacer so the other teeth don’t fill in the area where the tooth will erupt. Without the spacer, the other teeth could crowd the space, forcing the permanent tooth to come in crooked, behind or in front of the other teeth, or not come in at all.
Try to find the chip if one has fallen out of the tooth. You can preserve it in a bit of milk and bring it in when you come for your emergency appointment. If the tooth has come out completely, use a cold compress for the pain and to reduce bleeding, and call us immediately. We will get your child in to see what needs to be done to save the tooth.
So what’s the best way to pull a tooth at home? Remember the old tales of tying a string to your tooth and another to a doorknob, then slamming the door? Yeah, please don’t do that. You could damage your child’s gums and jawbone by forcefully yanking a tooth out before it’s ready to make its exit. Also, there’s no need for heavy tools to get rid of a tiny tooth, so if you want to know how to pull a tooth with pliers, the answer is simple — DON’T.
The best way to pull a loose tooth is to grab a tissue. A tooth ready to come out will offer little to no resistance when you wrap the tissue around it and squeeze. If the root is fully dissolved, the tooth will easily slide out of the gum. There should be minimum pain and blood.
Your child may end up pulling their own tooth, either on purpose or accidentally, by wiggling their tooth. One good wiggle can pop the tooth out. It may make for a proud moment for your child, or it may make for a scary one. Reassure your child that’s what’s supposed to happen and they did a good job taking care of their loose tooth. Make sure they know not to pull out any other teeth until they’re loose and ready to come out.
Don’t forget to save the tooth for the Tooth Fairy! There are lots of fun ways for the Tooth Fairy to reward your child for their tooth. You can find suggestions online.
A tooth that's ready to come out will move freely and easily in all directions with very little resistance. If the tooth only wiggles slightly or feels firm when you try to move it, the root hasn't fully dissolved yet and the tooth needs more time. The best approach is to let your child wiggle it gently with their tongue each day and wait until it moves without any effort.
Once the tooth is ready, wrap a clean tissue around it and apply gentle pressure. A tooth with a fully dissolved root will slide out with minimal resistance and very little bleeding. The key word is gentle — if the tooth doesn't come out easily, it's not ready. Never force it, use tools, or try the string-and-door method, as these can damage the gum and the developing permanent tooth underneath.
Stay calm and check whether the tooth that came out is a baby tooth or a permanent tooth. If it's a baby tooth, a permanent tooth will eventually replace it, but you should still bring your child in so we can check for any damage to the gum, jaw, or the developing permanent tooth underneath. If a permanent tooth is knocked out, time matters — call us right away and keep the tooth moist in milk or saliva if possible.
Call us if a tooth is knocked out or damaged in an accident, if a baby tooth falls out and the permanent tooth doesn't come in within a few months, if your child seems to be in significant pain, or if the gum around a loose tooth looks swollen or infected. Routine loose teeth that are wiggling naturally don't usually require a call — but when in doubt, we're always happy to take a look.
Yes, and in most cases that's the preferred approach. The more the root dissolves naturally, the easier and less uncomfortable the tooth comes out. Encouraging your child to wiggle it with their tongue is fine. As long as the tooth is making progress and isn't causing problems, there's no rush to pull it.
Losing a tooth is an important part of your child's development, and most of the time it goes smoothly. But if a tooth is knocked out in an accident, won't come in after a baby tooth falls out, or something just doesn't look right, don't wait. Woodhill Dental Specialties is here for families in Dallas and Rockwall, TX. Bring your child in for their semi-annual dental exam so we can keep an eye on their dental development, or reach out right away if you have an urgent concern. We're happy to help.
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