A kid’s baby/milk teeth will usually fall out when he or she is 6 to 7 years old. After all, development is a natural part of life that every child must pass through. Nevertheless, the experience can be traumatic for any child, despite the fact that the process entails little to no pain.
If you are a parent to a kid whose teeth are about to fall out, you could be a little bit concerned about how to handle the situation and when to call a kid’s dentist. In this explainer, you are going to learn:
- When to expect your kid’s teeth to fall out
- How to prepare your child for their teeth to fall out
- What to do when the teeth fall out
Here are a few tips on how to handle your kid’s teeth falling out.
Don’t fret if your kid is “behind schedule”
Expect your kids to start losing their baby teeth when they are around six or seven years old. However, some children tend to experience delays, especially if it took a while before they got their first teeth. The first to go is normally the central incisors followed by the lateral incisors.
If you are concerned that your child is still holding on to their baby teeth, be sure to check with the kid’s dentist during the semi-annual cleaning and exam. With that said, you do not have to panic if your child’s baby teeth are still intact.
Allow nature to take its course
Some parents may be tempted to force the teeth of their child, especially if they feel the child is behind schedule. However, this is a huge mistake. Forcing a tooth out could cause serious harm to your child’s dental health.
Teething and teeth falling out are natural processes that should be allowed to take their course. Do not attempt to force out the tooth even if it’s loose. You can encourage your child to wiggle the loose tooth out, but do not allow them to do it easily until the tooth is “willing” to fall out.
Stay calm
Always stay calm when your child’s teeth are falling out. After all, the kid is already going through a distressing period, and you wouldn’t want to make your child more anxious by panicking.
Here are a few ways you can prepare your child to handle the falling out of teeth:
- A cool cloth placed on their face can help reduce any pain
- Have your child swish and rinse their mouth with warm salt water to provide relief and prevent infections
- You may give your child over the counter painkillers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen in case they feel any pain
All the 20 teeth will fall out one by one. By guiding your child on what to do each time a tooth falls out, they will be able to handle subsequent ordeals with even more ease.
Contact a kid’s dentist
For proper care, you are advised to contact a kid’s dentist as soon as the first tooth falls out. The dentist will be able to check on the progress of your child and provide proper treatment to deal with the situation.