As a parent, you look forward to milestones in your children’s lives. One of those big milestones is when you little on cuts his/her first tooth. Another is when your child gets a visit from the tooth fairy for the very first time. So, when exactly will a child lose their first tooth? Could there be concerns and complications?
When do Children Lose Their Baby Teeth?
From the chart below we can see that your baby will begin to gain their lower teeth at the age of 6 months. They will continue to gain teeth until they are almost three years old. In total, your child will have 20 baby teeth. You will also notice in the chart your child will begin to shed their baby teeth at six years. Their teeth start getting lose because their permanent teeth are pushing up on them. Baby teeth can also be lost due to cavities, gum disease, or injury. Although your child has 20 baby teeth, the shed teeth will be replaced with 32 permanent teeth.
Is there a time when pulling your child’s tooth is acceptable? Yes, if you find your child’s tooth is dangling in the socket, pulling it out does make sense. This will prevent your child from accidentally swallowing it. Just be sure your child is not in any pain or discomfort. If there is pain, then it is possible the roots have not properly dissolved, and the tooth should not be pulled. If in doubt, do not pull the tooth.
Should You Pull a Child’s Tooth?
Generally, parents should not try to pull their child’s tooth out. Pulling out the tooth could lead to tissue being damaged or even bone fragments in the socket resulting in an infection. Even if the tooth removal is successful, prematurely pulling a child’s baby tooth could lead to crooked permanent teeth and other dental issues. Allowing the tooth to fall out naturally is the best choice. Wiggling the tooth back and forth slightly is acceptable but don’t encourage your child to pull on it. Even better, it your child remains fascinated with wiggling their tooth, give them an apple to bite down on. The force may result in the tooth coming dislodged!
Have Fun with Your Kids!
Many parents help their child celebrate their tooth loss using the age-old tradition of a tooth fairy. You can search the internet for some creative ideas. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Leave a Tooth Fairy receipt along with some money. There are online receipts that can easily be printed.
- Include a tooth-friendly gift such as a cool toothbrush, kid-friendly toothpaste, or dental floss.
- Sprinkle glitter outdoor on your lawn to let your child know the tooth fairy found the right house.
- Write a letter to the Tooth Fairy thanking her for the visit.
- Make a Tooth Fairy pillow to store the baby teeth in.
- Read a Tooth Fairy Bedtime Story.
Have More Questions About Your Child’s Baby Teeth?
Whether your child is just gaining his or her baby teeth, just lost their first tooth, or still hanging on to their baby teeth as a teenager, HPS is here to answer your questions. We are a family and cosmetic dentist practice located in Shelby Township. We are currently accepting new patients, so give us a call today to schedule your child’s appointment so we can assess your child’s dental health needs. We can be reached at 248-652-0024.
