Most people wouldn’t give puling that loose tooth a second thought, particularly if an adult tooth is already pushing its way through the gums or the baby tooth is barely even connected anymore. As surprising as it may sound,  there are correct and incorrect ways to pull a loose tooth, situations where a dental professional might need to step in, and, as an adult, you should never, ever pull out your own teeth no matter how loose they may be.  

The Right Way to Pull A Baby Tooth

It is vital that baby teeth are not pulled too early. You can, however, show your little one how to nudge a loose tooth along. As soon as your child notices that they have a loose tooth, you can teach them a few simple things so they know what to expect; what is normal and what isn’t.  

• Urge your child not to put their hands or fingers inside their mouth. Dirty hands, no matter how small, leave behind debris, germs, and bacteria that could lead to a nasty and painful gum infection.
• Don’t forget to tell your child that they may see a little bit of blood as their tooth gets looser and when it finally comes out. 
• Never attempt to pull a tooth that is not ready to be pulled. This could result in an excessive amount of bleeding and impact the placement of the adult tooth pushing its way through.

Wiggle It

Wiggle it as often as you can. Urge your child to wiggle the loose tooth around using their tongue. They don’t need to exert force, just small, constant movements will help move along the process of getting rid of the loose tooth.   

Snack Smart

If wiggling isn’t working or your little one is particularly squeamish, try giving them something crunchy to snack on. Carrot sticks, apples, and celery sticks are all excellent options for helping to get rid of a loose tooth.  

It is important that you speak with a dental professional regarding any loose adult teeth, particularly if they are causing you pain. Dentists are trained in the treatment of underlying medical problems and how to properly extract a tooth with minimal pain and risk of infection.

San Diego Area Dental Practice

At McBride Dental, we want to help you and your family do everything possible to have and preserve healthy teeth and gums. By scheduling regular appointments with your California family dentist and practicing the oral care techniques we teach you, your whole family will easily maintain teeth that are healthy, strong, and effective.

The San Marcos offices of Dr. Michael McBride are staffed with reputable, professional San Diego area dentists that are ready to address any concerns you may have regarding common dental procedures, as well as preventative, cosmetic, or restorative dentistry. We also provide sedation dentistry treatments as an option for our patients with severe dental anxiety.

It is our job to help you and your family establish healthy dental habits to make sure that your teeth will always be there when you need them and your smile will always look great.