Has your child recently come home from school with stories about how their friends have pulled out a baby tooth? Or maybe you’ve seen one of the countless online videos on the subject. If so, you know that there’s no shortage of…well, interesting ways to get the job done!
While most baby teeth generally fall out “on time”, it’s also not uncommon for them to hang on longer than they should. In that case, your child might be anxious about a visit from the tooth fairy, which can make it tempting to try one of the many at-home methods of pulling it. But as a pediatric dentist in Irving, we can assure you that there are better ways! Keep reading to learn about some of the most common things people do at home and how you can do it correctly.
What Are Some Of The Ways People Try To Extract Baby Teeth at Home?
Both old and new, there are some creative ways that parents and children have decided to pull a tooth at home. Remember kids (and adults), don’t try this at home!
- Tie one end of a string around the baby tooth and the other around a doorknob. Then slam the door… and voila! The tooth is gone.
- Connect the tooth to a remote-controlled toy truck with a string and then give it maximum “gas” and watch it go.
- Some people take it a step further and just tie the string to the back of an actual car or truck. Yikes!
Although these methods make for entertaining videos, in some cases they can cause damage to the jawbone, socket, or soft tissues of your child’s mouth.
Thankfully, there’s a better way!
How To Remove A Milk Tooth At Home
If a baby tooth, also known as a milk tooth, has become loose on its own, simply have your child use clean fingers to gently wiggle it every day. Once it’s loose enough that it can be pulled out easily, use your (clean) fingers to conduct a simple extraction gently. Do not use string or other tools.
Then take a clean, damp paper towel and apply gentle pressure to the area to stop any bleeding and form a blood clot. You can use an over-the-counter children’s pain reliever if your child complains of any discomfort.
If one or more teeth aren’t very loose and their permanent teeth have started to come in behind them, the safest and most reliable way to take them out is by scheduling a teeth extraction.
Protecting Your Child’s Oral Health
Regardless of whether you decide to pull a tooth at home or the dentist, you’ll still need a dentist to check your child’s missing tooth. One problem that can occur under a DIY method is a dry socket which can be very painful. Usually, this happens with a permanent tooth or adult tooth, but it can happen after a baby tooth comes out.
How Do Dentists Pull Baby Teeth Out?
We’ll make sure your child is comfortable through every step of tooth extraction. From applying a local anesthetic to gently speaking with them throughout the entire process, we will make sure they feel comfortable and safe as we remove any baby teeth that are causing problems. Unlike a DIY method, parents won’t have to worry about unanticipated consequences such as gum infection, dry socket, or other dental problems.
We know how impatient children can be to lose a “stubborn” baby tooth. The good news is that an appointment to have it pulled is quick, easy, and safe!
All of the dentists at Rio Dental & Orthodontics are dedicated to providing their community with outstanding pediatric dental care. Please contact us at (972) 945-9902 to schedule an appointment.
