Do you remember what you felt when you lost a tooth for the first time? Were you excited to become more grown up, or scared that your body was falling apart? Children react to this adolescent milestone in a variety of ways, and it is important to talk to you child as they are undergoing this process to make sure they understand what is happening and to calm any fears and concerns they might have.
Explain to your children that losing teeth is a normal process that everyone experiences, and encourage them by telling them how exciting these changes are. If your child likes earning money or is easily bribed, be sure to explain the Tooth Fairy to them. When talking to your children when they have a loose tooth, encourage them to wiggle the tooth out on their own, rather than trying to force it out in other ways. It is important not to force the tooth out or use the classic television method of tying a string to a door to yank it out, because this could cause damage to the mouth if the roots can break off in the gums. Prematurely forcing the tooth out can lead to infection.
Your child may try to avoid brushing their teeth or eating healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables while they have a loose tooth. It is important that they maintain healthy dental habits even while they are undergoing the process of losing teeth.
If it takes your child longer to lose his or her first tooth, you might want to talk to them to make sure they don’t feel left out or abnormal since they may be among the last ones to undergo this process. Explain to them that eventually the teeth will begin to fall out, and everyone is different. It is not a bad thing if they take a big longer than some of their friends. If your child is past the age of seven and hasn’t began to baby teeth yet, there is likely no reason for worry, but we encourage you to schedule an appointment with our office to make sure everything is healthy.