What to do when a baby tooth won’t fall out

Loose baby teeth are an exciting milestone for children but they can also cause worry for parents. Many of us remember the old trick of tying a string to a loose tooth and slamming a door to pull it out. While this may sound funny it is not a safe method and should never be tried at home.

The good news is that most loose baby teeth fall out naturally without any help. Baby teeth have roots and nerves just like permanent teeth. As the permanent tooth begins to grow underneath it slowly dissolves the roots of the baby tooth. Once the roots dissolve the tooth becomes loose and eventually falls out on its own. This is a natural process that usually happens without pain.

Sometimes the permanent tooth takes a little longer to erupt. During this time your child may have a loose baby tooth that does not fall out immediately. This can be frustrating but patience is usually the best solution.

If your child wants to help the tooth come out there are a few gentle methods that are safe and effective.

First encourage your child to gently wiggle the loose tooth with clean fingers. Most children naturally do this but remind them to wash their hands before touching their mouth.

Second crunchy foods like apples carrots or cucumbers can help loosen the tooth naturally while also providing healthy nutrition.

Third a warm saltwater rinse can soothe the gums reduce inflammation and provide comfort especially if the tooth has recently fallen out.

Sometimes a loose tooth may still seem attached to the gum. This is normal and it will separate once the roots completely dissolve. If a permanent tooth begins erupting behind the baby tooth do not pull or yank the loose tooth. It will usually fall out soon and allow the permanent tooth to move into its correct position naturally.

Your Saraswati Dental College team is here to help! 

We are proud to be well-known pediatric dental experts in Saraswati Dental College and Hospital. We are here to help you and your child adjust to their new world of dentist visits in any way that we can. If you think it would be helpful to introduce your child to our team before their appointment, please let us know and we are happy to make that happen. You and your child are in great hands with our trusted team and don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions. If you’re ready to schedule your child’s visit, let’s get started!