Whether or Not to Pull a Child’s Loose Tooth

In decades past, most of us got a little help pulling out loose teeth. Mom might tie one end of a string to the loose tooth and the other end of the string to the doorknob, or dad might just reach into your mouth and yank the loose tooth right out! Our parents or grandparents never gave it a second thought, but you may wonder if pulling your child’s loose tooth is the healthiest thing to do.

The loosening of a tooth doesn’t always mean that a child’s permanent teeth are growing in. It’s common for kids to roughhouse and they may sometimes accidentally knock their baby teeth loose. If this happens, please bring your child to Firestone Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics because this scenario could cause infection in the baby tooth, the permanent tooth underneath, or even the soft tissues.

To Yank or Not to Yank

Here at Firestone Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we do not advise you to pull your child’s loose tooth. This can cause damage to the soft tissues around the tooth or pain and damage if the tooth really isn’t ready to come out. It’s natural for your child to wiggle his or her tooth with a finger or tongue until it falls out on its own, but this is the best way to allow a tooth to fall out; naturally.

If your child is especially anxious for a visit from the Tooth Fairy, he or she can feel frustrated at a tooth that’s taking too long. But this can be a good way to teach your child patience, as letting nature take its course is the best way to minimize the risk of pain, bleeding, and infection that can go along with pulling a tooth out too early.

If your child has a loose tooth or if you’re concerned about how long it’s taking for a tooth to fall out, please don’t hesitate to make an appointment for your child here at Firestone Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics. Our children’s dentist is located here in Firestone, Colorado.