糖心视频

Do you believe in the Tooth Fairy? On February 28^th, we celebrate Tooth Fairy Day, and as dental professionals, all of us at 糖心视频 are using the opportunity to educate our patients (and their parents) about loose teeth. When your child starts losing their baby teeth, it is an important milestone for them, and they鈥檙e probably also excited about getting a special surprise from the Tooth Fairy when they put a baby tooth under their pillow. 

While a visit from the Tooth Fairy is an exciting prospect, it鈥檚 important to let your child know that they don鈥檛 need to rush the process along. After all, they will only get about 20 visits from the Tooth Fairy, so it鈥檚 more fun to space them out. Here鈥檚 more about loose teeth in children and what you should do when your child tells you they have a loose tooth.

Why Do Children鈥檚 Teeth Become Loose?

All children should start losing their baby teeth around the age of 6. It鈥檚 nothing to be alarmed about; it鈥檚 actually a good sign. It means the permanent teeth are starting to erupt. Your child should have most of their permanent teeth by the age of 7. If they don鈥檛 it could be a sign of impactions or other issues that should be discussed with your child鈥檚 dentist.

Is It Safe to Pull a Child鈥檚 Loose Tooth?

Ideally, you should wait until a tooth is very nearly falling out on its own to pull it. As the permanent tooth underneath begins to erupt, it will sever the connective tissue attaching the baby tooth to its root until it falls out. Of course, children are often tempted to wiggle and pull on the tooth until it comes out. While this is not particularly harmful, it can cause excessive bleeding, pain, and sensitivity if too much of the connective tissue is severed at once. Touching a loose tooth with bare hands can also introduce bacteria into the gums. If your child can rotate their tooth fully without any pain, it鈥檚 a good sign that the tooth is ready to come out.

If your child comes to you for help, it鈥檚 best to reassure them that these things take time. That visit from the Tooth Fairy can wait another day. Instead of trying the old doorknob trick, encourage your child to let the process happen on its own. Be patient, and refrain from using any tools like pliers that could potentially damage neighboring permanent teeth.

Consult a Family Dentist in Chicago

If you have questions about your child鈥檚 loose teeth, it鈥檚 best to speak to a professional like the ones at 糖心视频. We welcome patients of all ages and we will be happy to monitor the progress of your child鈥檚 permanent teeth and help to alleviate any concerns you may have. We even have 8 different locations in the Chicago area to make scheduling an appointment easy for you, no matter where you live or work. Call us at (773) 897-3218 or click 鈥�Make an Appointment鈥� to find a family dentist in River West Chicago or anywhere else in the Chicago area.