Sometimes, a tooth that’s on its way out might be so irritating for a child, they just want to get it over with. This might mean pulling out the tooth, which can be an uncomfortable prospect. So it’s understandable to be hesitant about it, especially if your child has faced anxiety or discomfort surrounding their teeth. In this post, we’ll show you how to pull a tooth.
Pulling a tooth safely and without any pain is important. This means that you shouldn’t pull a loose tooth too soon! Baby teeth in children usually fall out on their own, and only if a tooth is very loose should you consider helping the process along.
Note that you shouldn’t pull adult teeth under any circumstances! It’s entirely possible to cause significant damage to the tooth or the underlying structures.
Know When To Pull A Tooth, and When To Help It Along
One question that you may have on your mind is whether you should pull the tooth at all. This is especially pressing if your child is experiencing some discomfort having a very loose tooth in their mouth that hasn’t fallen out. The best thing to do is teach your child to help the tooth along in the process and comfort them with information on what to expect when it comes out.
Here are some things you can teach your child to encourage the tooth to come out on its own:
- Keep up with brushing and flossing regularly. The mechanical motions of your daily oral hygiene routine will help loosen the tooth.
- Eat healthy snacks that offer some crunch and fiber to chew through. An apple, a carrot, or some celery might offer the bite that pops the tooth!
- Lick and wiggle the tooth with the tongue, not the fingers! Remind them that they can wiggle the tooth gently with their tongue and coerce it into coming out. Ensure they don’t use their hands, as they can be dirty and introduce bacteria into the mouth.
How To Pull A Tooth
But if you do need to pull the tooth, make sure it’s very loose and just hanging by a little bit of tissue. A wiggly tooth, even if it’s been that way for a while, shouldn’t be forced out if it’s not very loose.
- Wiggle the tooth a little bit more forcefully with the tongue. It’ll loosen and fall out on its own. Prepare for a little bit of possible bleeding! Have an ice pack ready if it’s needed for your child’s comfort, and tell them not to worry, as some minor bleeding is normal.
- Use dental floss to curve around the bottom of the tooth, gently waxing it through to get it to loosen.
- Use some dampened gauze to wiggle and remove the tooth manually after cleaning your hands. The child can bite down on the gauze afterward to reduce bleeding.
- You can reduce your child’s anxiety by introducing a “fun” way of taking the tooth out. Tying a piece of string around the tooth and another around a baseball to be thrown will swiftly remove the tooth as the ball flies off.
Conclusion
The best option is always to contact your local dentist. A qualified dentist will help you best with your child’s dentition and tell you when the tooth is ready to come out. Also, they’ll be able to tell you how to do it painlessly. They can also treat broken, infected, or damaged teeth that need removal or replacement.
Lonestar Dental Center is your complete oral healthcare destination for various advanced dental procedures and comprehensive exams. We provide excellent service from the very beginning of your time with us in Humble, TX. Feel free to give us a call at (281) 233-0333, and we’ll be happy to help you with any questions or concerns or schedule an appointment to have your teeth looked at.