Losing baby teeth is a rite of passage for every child. Although these often fall on their own, they sometimes need a little help. If your child's tooth rocks a lot and is ready to be extracted, there are several things you can do to make the procedure painless and avoid the risk of infection.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Evaluate the Tooth
Step 1. Move the affected tooth
If you try to get it out before it's ready, you only cause unnecessary pain, bleeding and infection. Before trying to extract it, test it by moving it in all directions. If it rocks a lot, it means it is ready to be taken off.
- First, encourage the child to move the tooth with their tongue. Make sure he can push it forward, backward, and side-to-side.
- Your child can also move it around with their fingers, but make sure they are clean before letting them do it.
- If the tooth does not move easily it means that it is too early to remove it.
Step 2. Ask the child if he is in pain
An almost completely detached tooth is fixed with only a thin flap of gum tissue and should not cause pain with movement. As you or the child move the tooth, ask him repeatedly if it hurts. He may feel some discomfort, but if he complains it means that the tooth is not ready for extraction yet.
Don't worry if you see the permanent tooth sticking out next to the temporary one. This is absolutely normal and as it grows, the baby tooth will have slowly reabsorbed the root and become easily removable
Step 3. Check for bleeding
Just like with pain, a loosening tooth shouldn't cause bleeding with movement. Although you may notice a few drops of blood after the extraction, this shouldn't happen as you just swing your tooth. Observe it when you move it; if you notice any blood, you will have to wait a little longer.
Part 2 of 3: Extract the Tooth
Step 1. Ask the child if he would like to remove the tooth
If you act suddenly, you could frighten him and cause unnecessary pain if your child resisted. Some children prefer the tooth to come off on its own; in that case do nothing. If your child wants to remove it, you can continue with the procedure.
Step 2. Wash your hands thoroughly using soap and water
You should never put dirty hands in your child's mouth, as this could cause infection or disease. To avoid any complications, wash them thoroughly first.
- Click this link to know the right technique for washing hands according to the criteria of the Ministry of Health.
- If you have sterile rubber gloves, they are worth wearing to reduce the risk of infection.
Step 3. Make sure the baby is calm and calm
He'll need to sit still while you take his tooth out, so make sure he's clear before continuing.
- Remind him that the Tooth Fairy is about to arrive - this will help him calm down.
- You can also promise to reward him with an ice cream at the end of the draw.
Step 4. To avoid losing your grip, dry the tooth 2-3 times with a cotton ball or gauze
The mouth of babies is always very rich in saliva, so the extraction will be easier for you (and for your child) if the tooth is dry before pulling it.
If you don't have a cotton ball or gauze, you can also use a handkerchief. Anything that is able to dry the tooth (such as tissue) will help you not to lose your grip
Step 5. Place a piece of sterile gauze between your thumb and forefinger
To further reduce any risk of infection, you should not extract the tooth with your bare hands. Instead, use gauze so you don't directly touch your tooth or gums with your skin.
Step 6. Grab the tooth and pull it firmly
Lock it between your fingers with the help of the gauze and pull. You can also try to gently twist it as you pull, to detach each flap of gum. Try to make a quick movement so the baby doesn't get anxious and start struggling.
- If the tooth wobbles enough, it should come off without any problem. If it doesn't come off after a firm pull, it means it's not ready yet. In this case, stop, otherwise you will cause pain to the baby. Try again after a few days.
- Another method is to wrap a 20 cm piece of dental floss around the loose tooth and try to push it as high as possible. Make the loop as tight as possible and make a quick, firm motion to pull the ends of the thread, removing the tooth painlessly. If your child wants to do it himself, that's fine too.
Step 7. Stop the bleeding
Even when the tooth is very loose there is always a small loss of blood. Take a new piece of sterile gauze to gently squeeze the cavity left by the tooth with your thumb and forefinger. Ask your child to bite the gauze for about 10 minutes. This way you control bleeding and accelerate wound healing.
Step 8. Rinse his mouth with salt water
Even when the tooth is very loose and ready to come out, there is always a small open wound on the baby's gums after extraction. To avoid infections, use warm saline to rinse your mouth at the end of the procedure. It is worth repeating these washes for a couple of days after removing the tooth.
- Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a glass of hot water.
- Ask the child to rinse their mouth with this solution for 30 seconds.
- Make him spit out the salt water. Remind him that he may feel nauseous if he swallows it.
Part 3 of 3: When to Seek Medical Help
Step 1. Take your child to the dentist if he has a toothache
Normally your child will not feel pain due to a loose tooth. However, if you feel bad, there may be cavities or injuries. To be safe, take your child to the dentist to make sure everything is fine. The dentist may decide to extract or treat the tooth himself.
Don't worry because most likely everything is fine
Step 2. Go to the dentist if the tooth is loose due to an injury
If you know your child has suffered a mouth injury he may need dental treatment. The dentist will examine the child's mouth to see if the tooth is loose due to the injury or because it is time for it to fall out. Then it will help you decide how to treat the loose tooth.
Your dentist may advise you to pull the tooth, but they may also recommend alternative treatments
Step 3. Go to the dentist immediately if any tooth fragments remain
These are very rare cases, but it can happen that the tooth breaks while you remove it. In this case, your child needs immediate care, as the fragments could cause pain or lead to an infection. Take your child to the dentist to remove the fragments.
A tooth breaks more frequently due to an injury
Step 4. Take the child to the emergency room if the gum is bleeding for more than 15 minutes
It is completely normal for the gum to bleed after pulling out the tooth, so try not to worry. However, the bleeding should stop after about 15 minutes due to the pressure of the gauze in the socket. Check for bleeding after 15 minutes: If your gum is still bleeding, go to the doctor or emergency room so that a doctor can help you.
A dentist or doctor can help you stop the bleeding so you don't need to worry
Step 5. See your dentist if you notice any signs of infection
Your child likely won't develop an infection, so try not to worry. However, it is necessary to take him to the dentist immediately if you notice any signs of a possible infection. The dentist will help him get the treatment he needs to get better. Go to the dentist immediately if your child has the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Ache
- Bad breath
- Bad taste in the mouth
Advice
- Act quickly when you remove your child's tooth, otherwise you will cause unnecessary pain.
- Offer the child a cold drink, ice cream, or popsicle to relieve pain and numb the gum. in this way you also make him happy and calm. Alternatively, you can use a topical anesthetic such as clove oil or a specific gel to buy at the pharmacy.
- Ask the child to lean forward to prevent him from swallowing the blood and feeling nauseous.
- You can also take a small piece of dental floss to pull the tooth out slowly and calmly. Remind the child that there is a special surprise waiting for him as soon as the tooth is removed.
- If your child is 7 years old and hasn't lost any teeth yet, then you should take him to the dentist for a checkup. You need to make sure that there are no problems in developing the final dentition or take an x-ray to see if the teeth are under the gums.
Warnings
- If the bleeding is heavy, lasts more than 15 minutes and causes severe pain, go to the dentist right away.
- Never use the floss method to jerk the tooth. You could cause serious problems, such as root fracture, profuse bleeding, and edema.
- Never forcibly extract a tooth if the root is only half loosened, as this could break it and trigger an infection.
- If you try to pull a tooth and find that it is not yet ready to be extracted, do not force it. Wait a few days (or weeks) before trying again.
