Is It Okay For Kids To Wiggle A Loose Tooth?
Kids are fearless when it comes to some things, like having a tooth in their mouth get loose. If you've noticed that your child is wiggling that tooth and you're worried about whether or not it's safe to do so, then read this simple guide to find the answer you're looking for.
Why It's Typically Safe
Wiggling a tooth is actually typically pretty safe. The reason for this is that your child can still feel everything going on in and around that tooth. Any wiggling that they do will promptly stop if they experience any pain. So in short, if the tooth isn't ready to be wiggled, chances are your child won't wiggle it.
How It Actually Helps
Wiggling a tooth actually has some benefits, whether your child is using their finger or even their tongue to move it around.
When a tooth is ready to fall out, the inner substances of the tooth and the root are absorbed back into the body. However, sometimes the gums themselves don't let go as quickly as they should. When this happens, wiggling a tooth can help by gently starting to loosen these connections to the tooth. If done for long enough, it will likely dislodge the tooth and cause it to fall out, which is exactly what you want to happen.
What To Do If It Takes Too Long
Of course, your child shouldn't be wiggling their tooth for weeks without any progress. If the tooth doesn't seem to be coming out when it should, then it might be time to seek help at your dentist's office.
Your child's dentist will be able to help by examining and x-raying the tooth to find out if there's something wrong going on. If it looks like everything's developing properly, your child may be sent home to continue wiggling the tooth. However, your dentist can also help by providing the gentle nudge the tooth needs and gently pulling it out then and there. This is more likely to happen if there's something wrong with the development of the tooth.
Keep in mind that while a dentist is capable of removing the tooth themselves, you shouldn't try to do it at home. You run the risk of breaking the tooth or causing other permanent damage.
Talk to a dentist if you have concerns about how your child is acting with their tooth or if you feel that they've had it for too long already. While teeth normally fall out on their own, they don't always behave the way that they should, and that's when it's time to seek help from a kids' dentistry provider.