The first loose baby tooth is an exciting milestone for both parents and children. Losing their first tooth means they’re growing, their smile is developing healthily, and it’s time for their first visit to an office specialized in pediatric dental care in Hawaii.
However, not all baby teeth will fall out as easily as their first one. The process of losing their first set of teeth is lengthy and complex, and in some cases, they are plagued with stubborn teeth that simply won’t fall out. If they don’t, the permanent teeth underneath can suffer. Knowing what to do in these cases is key to the future of their smile.
What Happens If a Baby Tooth Won’t Fall Out?
Baby teeth typically erupt around six months and begin to fall out between the ages of six and twelve. The central and lateral incisors tend to be the first ones to come, followed by the canines and the molars.
However, each child’s timeline is slightly different. Some kids’ baby teeth do not fall out normally or at all. Keeping a baby tooth in place is sometimes acceptable, but more often than not, it can result in more dental issues. A child who retains their primary tooth into adulthood may be at greater risk for:
- Cavities
- An abscessed tooth
- Infections of the jawbone or gum line
- Gum disease
In addition to affecting your child’s bite and general oral health, retained baby teeth can cause crooked adult teeth to erupt due to disruptions in their eruption.
Can You Safely Remove a Loose Primary Tooth?
Loose teeth can be annoying and sometimes even painful for your child. They make eating more challenging when they wiggle, and if you accidentally bite into it wrong, a shot of pain can travel from it. Over time, having to walk on eggshells around this loose tooth can frustrate you and your child.
They may have an urge just to pull it out, but it can be dangerous to remove a tooth prematurely for several reasons:
- Because the tooth is still attached to nerves, your child will also experience excruciating pain if you pull out a tooth too soon.
- Your child’s primary teeth can serve as a guide to save space for their adult teeth. When a baby tooth is extracted too soon, the surrounding ones may shift to the available space, causing misalignment, changing the position of the subsequent tooth, or even making it impossible for it to come out.
- Teeth extractions in a dental office are oral surgeries. If you try to remove a baby tooth carelessly, you may end up leaving an open wound in your child’s smile that can become infected or cause dry socket, leading to severe discomfort.
The safest method is to allow a primary tooth to fall out naturally. Eventually, if they move their teeth with their tongue or fingers, the tooth will fall out on its own.
So, What Can I Do If my Kid’s Baby Tooth Won’t Come Off?
While ensuring all baby teeth come out is important, doing so safely is also crucial to protecting your child’s long-term oral health. To assist your child with this process, you can do the following:
Give It Time
Usually, the tooth isn’t yet ready to erupt. One way to expedite the process is to encourage your child to wiggle their tongue. The tooth will become looser and more likely to fall out on its own if you frequently wiggle it.
Eat Crunchy Foods
To try to extract the tooth naturally, give your child pretzels, carrot sticks, or other hard foods they enjoy. If they bite into hard foods, the baby tooth may become more prone to falling out.
Keep Optimal Oral Hygiene
During this period, tell your child to maintain good oral hygiene. Tell them to continue gently brushing and flossing the area, even if the tooth is loose. Keeping the area clean helps prevent infection and promotes healthy tissue for the incoming permanent tooth.
Monitor for Signs of Infection or Problems
Often, a loose tooth just needs some more time to come out, but in some cases, a more serious issue could be causing trouble. To rule this option out, watch for any signs that something’s wrong, such as redness or swelling in the gum, pain that doesn’t improve, and pus or a foul odor.
See a Pediatric Dentist
If all other options have been exhausted, you should have the tooth extracted by a pediatric dentist. The dentist who treats your child will decide whether extraction is the best course of action. You can rely on them to make the process as easy and uncomplicated as possible if they carry out the procedure.
What to Do If Adult Teeth Are Growing in Before Baby Teeth Fall Out
Sometimes a child’s adult teeth erupt behind the baby teeth, giving your child a temporary two-row of teeth. Some adults believe that to make room for the adult teeth, they should force the baby tooth out. This is not advised.
If given enough time, the primary baby tooth will often fall out on its own. Encourage your child to wiggle it gently to help it loosen more quickly. If the teeth continue not to fall out, they should see a dentist.
We can extract the tooth in a safer manner that will hurt your child less and is less likely to harm the nerves.
Get Help From an Office Specializing in Pediatric Dental Care in Hawaii
Baby teeth don’t always fall out as easily as one sees on TV. Be it stubborn teeth that don’t want to come out or permanent teeth growing in the wrong place, various issues can happen during this growing phase—and that’s natural. Nevertheless, following a professional’s advice is crucial to avoid unnecessary harm.
Contact KidShine Pediatric Dental Group and let’s identify what’s going on with that stubborn baby tooth!