At Falmouth Dental Arts, we believe that good oral health habits start early. We love helping children learn to take care of their teeth and it’s always an exciting time when a little one has his or her first loose tooth! Your child may have questions about having a wiggly tooth and may be wondering what to do if he or she loses it at school. Here are six tips that will make having a loose tooth a fun and stress-free experience!
1) Be Prepared
Most children have their first loose tooth between the ages of 6-7, although some may lose a tooth earlier and some later. It is very likely that once your child reaches kindergarten age, he or she will find themselves heading to school with a loose tooth. Prepare your child for this possibility by telling them that it’s okay – this is a completely normal and exciting milestone! This handy tooth chart, created by the American Dental Association, will help give you (and your child) an idea of what to expect and when!
2) Tell Your Child’s School
It’s a good idea to let your child’s teacher know if your child has an extremely wiggly tooth, especially if he or she is feeling nervous about it. Elementary-level teachers have lots of experience with their students losing teeth at school and can refer your child to the nurse to rinse their mouth or get cleaned up if the tooth does come out. Let your child know he or she can bring the tooth home in a plastic baggie or wrapped in a tissue to put under their pillow for the Tooth Fairy’s visit later on.
3) To Pull or Not to Pull – Let Your Child Take the Lead
You may be wondering if you should pull out your child’s loose tooth at home or let it fall out on its own. The answer is…let your child decide! If the tooth is really wiggly or is causing them discomfort, your child may just want to get it over with and ask for your help. If they do, place a tissue over the tooth and gently squeeze. If it’s ready, it should just come right out. Tell him or her how brave they were and how the Tooth Fairy recognizes extra courage!
4) Keep Calm and Continue Your Child’s Dental Routine
Tell your child that they should not touch or prod the space where their tooth used to be. The area should heal up quickly, although he or she may want to eat on the other side of their mouth if the gum area is still feeling sensitive. Your child should continue their regular dental routine – brushing twice a day and flossing daily – as usual and should rinse or brush gently around the area to make sure it stays clean and no food gets stuck.
5) Bring on the Tooth Fairy!
If you’re open to a little make-believe, a visit from the Tooth Fairy can become a really special tradition for your child. Check out our past post about fun Tooth Fairy traditions from around the world. Encourage your child to write a note to the tooth fairy, letting her know that he or she lost her tooth at school or that they asked you to pull it out at home. Have them leave the note under their pillow, or on their door so the tooth fairy doesn’t forget to visit (wink, wink). Consult other parent friends to determine “the going rate” for a gift from the Tooth Fairy, or set your own rate and explain that every child has his or her own special fairy that’s just right for them.
6) Get in Touch with Us if You Have Questions!
If your child seems to be very early or late in losing a baby tooth or loses a tooth due to injury, do not hesitate to give us a call at 207.781.5900. Our team of compassionate dental professionals would be happy to answer any questions you may have or can schedule an exam for your child with Dr. Brunacini or Dr. Karagiorgos. While your child is here for his or her appointment, we can also go over their dental routine to make sure they are taking care of their baby teeth as well as the new permanent teeth growing in!
