All around the world, families celebrate with special traditions when children lose their baby teeth. In Canada, the tooth fairy visits to collect the tooth and leave a gift behind. The loss of baby teeth means your child is growing up and permanent ‘adult’ teeth are taking their place. Parents often wonder about the best way to deal with loose teeth. Should they pull them? Leave the tooth alone? Here are some facts about baby teeth, and the best way to help your youngster with their loose tooth.
What are Baby Teeth?
Baby teeth start to make an appearance around four to six months of age. The first tooth is usually a middle, lower front tooth called a central incisor, followed by the second lower front tooth and then the upper teeth. The last to come in are the four back molars, which happens around two years of age. In total there are twenty primary teeth or ‘baby’ teeth, that come in over two or three years.
Parts of the Tooth
Teeth are made up of four main parts:
- Root – holds the tooth to the jaw bone
- Pulp – the soft tissue on the inside of the tooth, it also contains the nerve
- Dentin – the main part of the tooth, below the enamel
- Enamel – the hard outer layer of the tooth
Why do kids lose teeth?
Around age six or seven, Children begin losing their baby teeth and permanent teeth start erupting to take their place. Often the teeth that came in first (the lower front teeth and then the upper front teeth) are the first ones to go. Permanent teeth are the teeth that your child will have for the rest of their adult lives. They will get up to 32 permanent teeth.
Permanent teeth include:
- Incisors – these are the front teeth and usually come in first with the lower ones appearing before the top teeth around age six or seven. These are followed by the incisors next to the middle teeth called the lateral incisors, which usually happens around age nine.
- Canines – these are the pointy teeth next to the incisors, these tend to appear after the lateral incisors.
- Premolars – these appear a few spaces in front of the six-year molars.
- Molars – also some of the first permanent teeth to appear — there are two on the bottom row of teeth and two on the top row. These are sometimes called the six-year molars and do not replace any baby teeth. Around age twelve to thirteen, twelve-year molars will appear at the back of the mouth on the top and bottom rows. The last baby teeth lost is often the cuspid or second molar. This happens around the age of twelve.
Here is what happens:
- A permanent tooth starts pushing up under the child’s gums
- The root of the baby tooth starts to dissolve
- The tooth gets ‘loose’ and can wiggle
- It can sometimes take up to two weeks for the tooth to fall out
- You may hear a slight ‘pop’ as the tooth separates from the roots and gums
- When it is ready, the tooth will fall out painlessly with very little blood
Should you Pull a Loose Tooth?
Loose teeth will eventually fall out on their own and it is usually best to leave them alone. Children can help to loosen a tooth by gently wiggling it back and forth with their finger or tongue. If the tooth is not ready to come out, tugging on it could damage the roots and cause unnecessary pain. If you do see swelling, redness around the gums, or a lot of bleeding, you should have the tooth looked at by a dentist to make sure it is not infected.
If your child cannot wait for their visit from the tooth fairy, here is a safe way to remove a loose tooth:
- Wash your hands with soap and warm water.
- Get a clean tissue and hold it over the tooth. Gently wiggle the tooth back and forth to make sure it is ready to come out.
- If the tooth is ready, gently squeeze the tooth at the gums, and the tooth should pop right out.
- If it does not come out easily, the tooth is not ready.
- Apply a little pressure with the tissue to the gum area if there is any minor bleeding. The bleeding should stop in a few minutes.
- Take a look at the gum to make sure there are not any pieces of baby tooth stuck in the tooth socket. The area should look clean.
Time for a visit from the tooth fairy!
If you are ever concerned about your child’s loose tooth, see any redness around the gums the next day, or if there is excessive bleeding, the best thing to do is talk to your dentist right away to make sure it is not infected.
What if a Tooth is Lose From an Injury?
Sometimes kids have loose teeth because of injuries — from playing sports or falling. If this happens, take your child to see your dentist right away. With injuries, there could be a risk of infection or damage to the permanent tooth, and your dentist can best assess the extent of the injury.
What About Wisdom Teeth?
Not all people get their 32 permanent teeth. Wisdom teeth are the last set of molars to appear and often don’t come in until people are teenagers or in their early 20s. Some people do not get them at all. Wisdom teeth can cause problems if there is not enough space for them in the mouth; in this case, they will need to be removed before they erupt. Your dentist can keep an eye on your child’s mouth and the development of their wisdom teeth and advise you if action should be taken.
How to Care for those permanent teeth
Your child’s permanent teeth will last them the rest of their lives (hopefully), and it is essential to take good care of them. Regular dental checkups and a daily dental routine that includes brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily will ensure that your child’s smile lasts a lifetime. Here are some other ways to keep your child’s teeth clean and healthy:
- Reduce sugar in their diet from foods and drinks. Sugar feeds bacteria on your mouth and becomes plaque, which can cause tooth decay and cavities
- Eat a healthy diet with a variety of fresh foods and vegetables
- If you play sports, wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth from injury
- Do not chew on hard substances like ice, hard candy, or pens; these can damage your teeth
For dental advice and expert care for your child and their growing teeth in Brampton, call Springdale Dental Centre at (905) 458-1212 or contact us online. We care for patients of all ages. If your child is under twelve, they can join the “No Cavity Club” for a chance to win a monthly draw for a $25 Toys ‘R’ Us gift card for cavity-free kids.
