Baby teeth naturally fall out, but sometimes they are stubborn and need an extra push. When your kid wants to get their loose tooth out, you have several at-home options besides the classic string and door tactic, which could cause more harm than good. Continue reading to learn what happens if a primary tooth stays in the mouth and methods for taking it out.
What Happens If a Baby Tooth Won’t Fall Out?
For some people, their baby teeth don’t fall out as usual or at all. Retaining a baby tooth here or there is okay sometimes, but more often than not, it can lead to more dental complications. If a child has a primary tooth that lasts into adulthood, they could be more susceptible to:
- Cavities
- An abscessed tooth
- Infections in the gumline or jawbone
- Periodontal disease
Retained baby teeth can also disrupt the eruption of emerging adult teeth, making them come in crooked, and affect your child’s overall oral health and bite.
Tips for Getting a Loose Baby Tooth Out
With how important it is to make sure all baby teeth come out, there are some things you can do to help your child with this process, including:
- Give it time and wiggle it more: In most cases, the tooth isn’t ready to come out yet. To speed up the process, you can encourage your child to use their tongue to wiggle it. Wiggling the tooth frequently helps it become looser and more likely to fall out on its own.
- Eat crunchy foods: You can give your child carrot sticks, pretzels or other hard foods they like to eat to try and get the tooth out naturally. Biting into the hard foods may help loosen the baby tooth, making it more susceptible to falling out.
- Visit a pediatric dentist: If you’ve exhausted all other options, you should visit a pediatric dentist to remove the tooth. Your child’s dentist will determine if extraction is the right approach. If they perform the procedure, you can trust they’ll make it as smooth and straightforward as possible.
Connect With Sprout Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
If you’re worried about your child’s loose tooth not coming out, visit Sprout Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics. We know you want the best for your kid’s oral health, so our team will do everything possible to ensure your child is comfortable at our dental office. Our dentists will look at your child’s teeth to see the potential issue and determine a solution that will have you and your child smiling.
Contact our office today to learn more about our pediatric dentistry services and schedule an appointment.
Dr. Dana grew up in Portland and went to Temple University in Philadelphia, PA for dental school. She then moved to Anchorage, AK for her residency in Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Dana takes a holistic approach to pediatric dentistry & is able to use her own parenting experience to sympathize and understand each family’s unique dynamic.
