One of the milestones that your child will face is their first lost tooth. You see them toying with their loose tooth with their tongue from time to time, so you know it’s time to prepare for when it falls out.
Losing baby teeth is a natural part of every child’s early years. This post from your children’s dental health center can help you better understand what to do when their adult teeth are ready to erupt.
Lost Baby Tooth? Don’t Panic!
As a parent, you’ll have to face your child losing their baby teeth 20 times! That’s right, your little one has 20 little baby teeth that are just placeholders for their natural adult teeth.
Typically, teeth fall out in the same order that they come in, meaning that your child’s first lost tooth is likely to be their lower center teeth anywhere from 4 years old to 7 years old.
Children may have different reactions to losing their teeth. The most important thing to remember is to stay calm so they don’t panic when they lose their first tooth. Reassure your little one that they probably won’t even feel anything when their first tooth falls out naturally.
Helpful Tips for a Smooth Tooth Transition
One of the worst things you can do is force your child’s tooth to come out or encourage them to try to pull it themselves. The tooth roots that help to anchor their teeth within their gums will naturally weaken, allowing the baby tooth to fall out itself. This is why the tooth becomes loose.
You can encourage your child to wiggle the little loose teeth but not to pull them out before they’re ready. Once a tooth falls out, the gum may show light traces of blood which is normal. The bleeding will stop shortly after, especially if you swish their mouth with salt water. If it continues to bleed, just have them bite down on a piece of gauze or a clean towel to apply pressure.
It may take just a few weeks for their permanent tooth to peak through the gums. Be sure to still brush the area where your missing tooth is and explain to your child that it’s important to care for your gums just as much as it is to care for your teeth.
What to Do with the Lost Tooth
Now that you have a baby tooth in hand, you may wonder what you should do with it. This is a personal decision. Some parents prefer to throw them away, some keep them as fond memories of their little one’s childhood memories.
Nowadays, teeth can even be saved for health reasons since scientists have found that baby teeth are an excellent source of mesenchymal stem cells that can be used should your child get sick with certain cancers, illnesses, or diseases. In fact, there are sires and services that will store your child’s tooth to preserve the stem cells for you.
Ultimately, the decision is yours. Be sure to visit your dentist by the time your child has lost their first tooth for additional assistance.
About Our Office
Here at Children’s Dental Center, we’re here to help parents and children alike. We love to review the process with parents, having the opportunity to work with whole families from the eruption of their very first tooth to the very last.Feel free to give us a call today!