Should I Pull Out My Child’s Loose Tooth?

Most of our teeth got some help “falling” out when we were younger. Maybe your dad would tie a string around a tooth and the other end around the doorknob, or mom would just reach in and yank! Our parents, grandparents, or other caregivers really didn’t think twice about helping our teeth fall out, but these days, many parents are now wondering about their child’s loose tooth.

A loose tooth doesn’t necessarily mean your child is receiving his or her permanent teeth. Kids tend to rough-house and they sometimes knock their teeth loose on accident. If this happens, please be sure to bring your child into Piedmont Pediatric Dentistry, as there could be a risk of infection in the soft tissues of the mouth or damage to the permanent tooth underneath.

Should I Pull My Child’s Loose Tooth?

These days, we don’t recommend that you yank your child’s loose tooth out. You could damage the sensitive tissues around the tooth, which can then cause pain, bleeding and even an infection. It’s perfectly natural for your child to be curious about their loose tooth, even wiggling it or playing with it until it falls out on its own. In the end, this is the best way to approach a loose tooth – allowing it to fall out naturally.

It can be frustrating to wait and let nature take its course (especially if you have kids who are anxious for a visit from the Tooth Fairy!), but this is the best way to minimize the pain, bleeding, and potential infection that could come with pulling a tooth out.

If your child has a loose tooth and you have any questions or concerns, please contact Piedmont Pediatric Dentistry. Our children’s dentist is located here in Greensboro, North Carolina.