Disclosure :: This post is sponsored and written by Dr. Anita Gouri of Lafayette Pediatric Dentistry. Read other posts by the Lafayette Pediatric Dentistry team HERE.
Should I Pull My Child’s Loose Baby Tooth?
Frequently, we get calls from parents who are not sure what to do when their child has a loose baby tooth. The most common answer is: “Do nothing. The tooth will fall out on its own.” But there are instances when we tell parents to get involved and help “wiggle” on the tooth or we get involved ourselves as their pediatric dentist and pull it.
Here are the most common scenarios that would warrant an appointment with us:
- When the baby tooth is loose, but causing so much discomfort that your child cannot eat properly or bite down without pain, we may need to help extract the tooth in the office. Discomfort with a loose tooth is common, and it does not mean the tooth is infected. As the baby tooth detaches from the gums, the permanent tooth is growing just underneath at the same time. So there is no “cushion” provided by the gums between the baby tooth and the permanent tooth, and your child will feel like they’re “biting on a stone.” Since baby teeth fall out at their own pace, this discomfort can go on for weeks. To get relief from the discomfort, we recommend getting that tooth out as soon as possible.
- When the baby tooth is over-retained, it needs help. In other words, the baby tooth is not loose or only slightly loose but the permanent tooth is already visibly coming out behind or above the baby tooth. If the baby tooth does not get looser and looser
over time, which is common, your dentist needs to help extract the baby tooth, so that the permanent teeth don’t get “stuck” in an improper position. However, if the baby tooth is getting looser and looser as expected, do nothing and let it fall out on its own, and you will see the permanent teeth gradually grow into the appropriate position. - Gums around a loose baby tooth can be tender and contribute to discomfort or bleeding when your child brushes in that area. As a result, sometimes kids tend to avoid brushing in that area at all, leading to plaque and debris buildup, which only makes the tenderness and inflammation worse. We have seen this many times. In some cases, the lack of hygiene gets severe enough to cause a minor gingival infection. If you notice your child’s oral hygiene taking a hit due to a loose tooth, it’s time for us to intervene and extract the loose tooth.
Loose teeth can be irritating in general, and some kids want to wiggle on them to get them out sooner. This is ok to do, and you can help them wiggle or twist the baby tooth periodically to speed up the process. It’s also ok to numb the area with ice or a numbing gel first to help with any associated discomfort. A good time to do this is when you notice the loose tooth is just beginning to cause discomfort or problems with brushing. It’s also not absolutely necessary to aggressively wiggle on a tooth as soon as you notice it’s loose. Unless one of the above scenarios arises, just let nature take its course and plan for a visit from the tooth fairy!
We hope this helps clear things up for you. If you have any questions or would like more information about your child’s dental health, please don’t hesitate to give us a call — we’re always here to care for you and your family.
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Other Dental Related Topics that May Be of Interest ::
- Busting Common Myths in Dentistry: The Causes of Cavities Edition
- Is It Just Picky Eating? What Every Parent Should Know
- Why Does My Child Have White Spots on Their Teeth?
- What if My Kid Freaks Out at the Dentist?
- Tips on Weaning Your Little One From Thumb & Finger Sucking
- Sleep Disordered Breathing: More Common Than You Think!
- Why Take X-Rays Routinely at the Dentist?
- Teething Toddler Woes: Tips and Tricks For Relief
- The Most Common Causes of Cavities
- Four Reasons Moms Should Reconsider Fruit Snacks
- Why Is My Child Grinding Their Teeth At Night?
- The Truth About Tongue and Lip-Ties
- The Most Common Causes Of Discolored Teeth
About the Author
Dr. Anita Gouri, a pediatric dentist, has been practicing in Lafayette for 17 years and is the owner of Lafayette Pediatric Dentistry. She graduated from LSU School of Dentistry in 2006, receiving honors including Outstanding Achievement in Pediatric Dentistry, Honors in Research, and the Carl A. Baldridge Academic Scholarship. She completed her residency in pediatric dentistry at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington DC in 2008 and became a board certified diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry in 2009. In 2010, her research on dental pain assessment was published in Pediatric Dentistry. She also has specialized training in treating babies and children who have tongue and lip ties. She is a member of the Academy of Laser Dentistry, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the Louisiana Dental Association, the Southwestern Society of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, as well as the C. Edmund Kells and Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Societies. Dr. Gouri, her husband, and their two children enjoy travel, Saints football, good food and good friends.
