The root of a baby tooth is slowly resorbed by the growth of the permanent tooth underneath. If this process is not complete, pulling out the tooth can cause pain and bleeding. Unless a tooth is extremely loose (literally hanging by a thread), avoid yanking it out of your child’s mouth. [2] X Research source Yanking a tooth can be painful for your child, and can damage their gum tissue.
It’s also important to remind your children that this process takes time. If a tooth is too tight to fall out, let them know that it may be several days before the tooth comes out on its own.
Rather than needlessly pulling on your child’s tooth, let them loosen it over time. Your child will be able to gauge their own pain (or lack thereof) and can tell when and if the tooth is being pulled on too hard. [4] X Research source Have your child wash their hands first to help prevent infection from any dirt or bacteria on their hands.
You can purchase oral analgesic or ibuprofen at your local drugstore or any pharmacy. Analgesics do not require a prescription. <refhttps://my. clevelandclinic. org/health/drugs/21483-analgesics Consult a pediatric dentist before doing this so you can make sure you give the right dosage.
Before putting your hands in your child’s mouth, first put on a pair of latex gloves, or use a clean cotton cloth to touch the tooth.
After you remove the tooth, clean it off with a small piece of gauze. You can also press some gauze onto the spot where the tooth was in your child’s mouth to stop any bleeding. Once the tooth is clean, show it to your child. Children are often curious about the teeth that have come out of their mouth. Let them hold the tooth and put it under the pillow for the tooth fairy.
Crunchy carrots. Crispy apples or peaches. Caramel or gum to chew.
Only attempt this when the tooth is already very loose. If you child attempts to use floss to remove a tooth that is not ready to fall out, the process will be painful and your child could end up tearing their gums.
A pediatric dentist will also be able to tell you if your child’s permanent adult teeth are coming in correctly.
If your child is uncomfortable with blood, distract them by focusing on how grown-up it is that your child his or her first baby tooth. If you have told your child about the tooth fairy, explain that, if your child leaves the tooth under the pillow, the tooth fairy will pay a visit and leave a dollar under the pillow.
Attempting to remove tooth fragments yourself could prove painful for the child, especially if the fragments are still embedded in the gum. If tooth fragments are present, make an appointment with your child’s dentist to have them removed as soon as possible.
Make sure that the tear in the child’s gum heals completely, or that an adult tooth has begun to poke through within a week of pulling the baby tooth. If the gum shows signs of infection, take your child to see a dentist as soon as possible.
