For parents, it can be hard to remember what it was like to have loose teeth when your kids start to lose their baby teeth. It’s an interesting transitionary period for your child’s oral health that can be sometimes frustrating for your kids. Loose teeth can sometimes seem to stick around for a long time and can make it difficult for your kids to chew and talk. That said, you should never try and pull the tooth, especially with that old-fashioned string and door technique. Pulling a tooth can cause unnecessary pain and can damage your child’s gum tissue. In this article, we will discuss safe pain-free ways to help teeth fall out naturally.
It is never recommended that parents “pull’ their child’s teeth out. If a tooth needs to be pulled out, it should be done by a dentist in-office. What parents can do is encourage children to wiggle their teeth. Lightly pushing the tooth around with your tongue is a great way to loosen the tooth. Children are also more likely to stop if things start getting painful. When a tooth falls out naturally, it is usually without any pain because the tooth has completely disconnected itself from the gum tissue. Pulling a tooth can be painful and cause bleeding since it involves ripping the gum tissue.
For safe, pain-free tooth removal, we recommend either encouraging your child to try and wiggle their tooth until it falls out on its own, or to see a dentist in person. When dentists remove teeth in-office they can make sure the process is painless. We recommend feeding your children soft foods and avoiding chewy or crunchy foods. Sometimes you will see online the advice to eat an apple because it can cause the tooth to come out. Unfortunately, this is just like pulling a tooth. The tooth comes out because it gets stuck in the apple and the force to remove it from the apple ends up causing the connecting tissue to rip. If your child is feeling any pain, we recommend using over-the-counter pain relief medicine or a cold compress to help with sensitivity.
Another option is to see your dentist. If a tooth is not coming out on its own and is causing problems for your child, a quick trip to the dentist might be needed. Dental teams can help remove teeth painlessly by numbing the area first. Dentists are also more aware of the anatomy of your child’s teeth and gums and will work to make sure there isn’t any damage. For family dental visits in Chicago, give us a call.
