Although it’s completely normal for children to lose their baby teeth, it’s not always obvious to parents what they can do to help their little ones through the process. This can be particularly nerve-wracking for parents who might not have experienced this with their child before. We’ve assembled some helpful information for parents, along with a few simple steps you can take to help your child after that baby tooth comes out.
Baby teeth are not meant to be permanent, which is why your child will lose those baby teeth to make way for their permanent teeth. Most kids begin losing their baby teeth between the ages of 4 and 7. If your child began teething at an early age, he or she will be more likely to begin losing baby teeth at an earlier age as well.
Fortunately, losing a baby tooth rarely hurts. In fact, many kids lose baby teeth without feeling anything at all. If your child is frightened about the prospect of losing a tooth, ease their fears by telling them that it won’t be painful. And introducing them to the tooth fairy will probably help as well! Once they find out about the tooth fairy, some kids get a little antsy and might try to pull a loose baby tooth before it’s ready to come out. Warn your child against doing this, since it can result in a broken root that might become infected.
Once your child actually loses the tooth, you might see a small amount of bleeding, but usually simply swishing with a little water will eliminate the bleeding. If bleeding continues, just have your child bite down on a piece of clean gauze for a short time until it stops.
What to Do When Your Child Loses a Permanent Tooth
If your child loses a permanent tooth, try to save the tooth if possible. Rinse it off with water and store it in milk until you can take it into your dentist’s office. Chances are your child’s gum will be bleeding from the socket where the tooth was, so have your little one rinse out his or her mouth with water, and then bite down on a piece of clean gauze to stop the bleeding. And most importantly of all – call your dentist right away. The sooner you take your child into the dentist, the higher the chances are that the dentist will be able to save the tooth.
