What Should I Know About My Child Losing Teeth
While a losing their teeth is a normal and important milestone, it can raise many questions, especially for the child’s parents. This article will review common questions regarding a child losing their baby teeth.
Normal Age to Lose Baby Teeth
In most cases, the teeth begin to get loose because the permanent adult teeth are ready to erupt and pushing on the baby teeth. Children typically lose their teeth in the same order that they initially erupted. This typically begins with the child losing their front teeth, then the canines, and eventually the back molars. The baby or primary teeth may start to wiggle when the child is 4 years old. Children typically lose their teeth when they are between 5 and 15years old. In some cases, the baby teeth may fall out from an injury or dental issue.
While the baby teeth do fall out eventually, it is still critical to practice good oral hygiene. Follow up with your dentist if your child has not lost any teeth before they are 8 years old, or if their adult teeth begin to erupt prior to the baby teeth falling out.
Pulling Loose Teeth
Baby teeth should fall out naturally to help prevent trauma to the gums. Once the tooth becomes lose, children often wiggle and play with the tooth, which is perfectly normal and encouraged. Be sure to talk to the child about losing their teeth and what to expect. Below are some key things to review with your child:
- Teeth will become lose and fall out
- Do not be afraid of swallowing the tooth
- If the tooth falls out at school, tell the teacher or visit the school nurse
- The gum will likely bleed after the tooth falls out
- Place the tooth in a tissue or sandwich bag to ensure it is not lost
It is a bit of a passing of rite for a child to miss their teeth. It will take some time for the adult teeth to erupt and fully come in.
Fortunately, the eruption of the adult teeth is not nearly as painful as it is for young babies. In most cases, the only pain the child experiences with the permanent teeth coming in is when the molars erupt. Over-the-counter pain medicine can help to manage this pain which should be quickly resolved.
Once the adult teeth erupt, expect for them to be larger, slightly darker, and more ridged compared to the baby teeth. It is always important to take good care of your teeth, but practicing good oral hygiene with the adult teeth is especially important. Good oral hygiene includes brushing the teeth twice each day, daily flossing and regular visits to the dentist.
A fun milestone which is commonly used when children lose their teeth is the tooth fairy. The tooth fairy may leave a note for the child, the child may use a special pillow or box, or the child may leave a picture for the tooth fairy. Perhaps the most popular tradition is for the child to receive a financial reward from the tooth fairy. The current average in the United States is $4.13 per tooth.