What you should do when your child loses a milk tooth?
Dr. D.Sendhil Nathan MDS, DNB Prosthodontics And Implantology
In the initial years of childhood, it is common for kids to shed their baby teeth. Losing baby teeth is commonly considered a major event in the process of growing up. In this article, let us talk about the steps that you need to take when your kid starts losing their baby teeth.
How does it start?
Most kids start losing their baby teeth sometime around 6 years. Whilst it is not a serious thing to worry about, in rare cases, a tooth might even come out due to factors such as tooth decay. This is why you ought to maintain proper oral hygiene and train children with good oral habits.
Can you predict it?
No. Baby teeth may fall out due to a number of triggers. It is vital that your child doesn’t panic when it happens. It is generally noticed that children who gain teeth the earliest, lose teeth first.
It is also generally observed that the permanent teeth come out in the same order and manner as the baby teeth. So fret not and let your child know that all is well.
Do the teeth fall off immediately?
Not exactly. It takes a while for the tooth to become loose and eventually fall off. The time period is generally a span of a couple of months. If the teeth are too shaky, it is better to remove it manually. You could also go to a dentist to remove it professionally.
Will the appearance be temporarily affected?
Yes, but it is nothing to worry about. The teeth might look odd for a while especially when the kid is in the process of getting permanent teeth. But it is nothing much to fret about.
What to do when a tooth falls out?
When a tooth falls out, there are a number of steps that you can take to ensure that your kid is comfortable throughout the process. Have your kid gargle on warm water after it happens. Also, use a toothpaste and brush that is comfortable to the kid as well as a one that gets rid of the plaque.
It is also important to remember that whilst this takes place, your kid ought to maintain proper oral hygiene to ensure that the teeth aren’t affected by any oral ailments. Infection during the shedding of milk teeth would only accentuate the pain.
Gargling with warm water, awareness and good oral hygiene will go a long way in ensuring the whole process is seamless.
