Are Your Children Losing Baby Teeth?

Parents’ Guide to Loose Teeth

As parents, we go through a lot of changes with our children including constant changes to their mouths and oral health. We have to endure the teething of toddlers and then rejoice or be saddened by the loss of our children’s baby teeth as their adult teeth begin to grow in. Since it has often been quite some years since parents have put their own teeth under the pillow for the Tooth Fairy, what can they expect as their own children begin to go through the process of losing their baby teeth?

The Journey of Losing Teeth

Many parents are interested in knowing when their child will begin to lose baby teeth. The truth is, every child is different – those children who began teething and getting their teeth early on often lose their teeth sooner than other kids and vice versa. Generally, the first baby tooth becomes loose and falls out around the age of five or six, and the remaining teeth fall out soon after. Again, every child is different, and there is no way to pinpoint an exact age when tooth-loss begins.

What to Eat with a Loose Tooth

Often when a baby tooth becomes loose, it can be painful for children to bite into certain foods and chew as they normally would as the tooth becomes detached from the gums. While the tooth or teeth are loose, consider serving foods that are gentler on the teeth, such as pureed vegetables, soups, or other foods that require minimal chewing.

When to Pull a Loose Tooth

We have all seen those cartoons where children tie their teeth to string, attach it to a doorknob, and slam the door shut to remove their teeth. While this may work in some cases, it is almost always very painful. Make sure you and your child have patience when it comes to losing baby teeth. Should a loose tooth linger longer than you think it should, make sure it is loose enough before attempting to pull it out. Generally, if the tooth is loose enough, you can grasp it, pull up, and twist to get it out.

Celebrate!

Losing baby teeth is an important milestone in children’s lives, so it is important to make sure you are celebrating these moments! Teaching children all about the traditions of the Tooth Fairy can make growing up and losing baby teeth more fun and less traumatizing for them, and it also allows you to create amazing memories with your child or children.

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