You’re not just a mom or dad — you’re also the elusive tooth fairy, benevolent in your willingness to bestow loose change beneath the pillows of sweet children, right?

But before the tooth fairy can coast in to take a little tooth, that tooth must first fall out properly. And that’s where some feel a tad of concern.

Some children, after all, have difficulty getting a loose tooth out. And if this is something you eventually come across, you’ll probably want to know:

Do you go ahead and remove it? Why or why not?

Taking a Look at Loose Baby Teeth

“As you may have noticed, children like to wiggle a loose tooth with their fingers or tongue,” according to Delta Dental. “This may be all it takes to make the tooth fall out. If a baby tooth is only slightly loose, you should leave it alone until more of the root dissolves.”

That being said, once a tooth is loose enough, it is possible for you to help your child remove it.

We recommend you grip the tooth with a tissue or a small piece of gauze. Then, in one swift motion, pull the tooth while also giving it a slight twist. This should help detach it from any remaining roots.

However, if the baby tooth will not come out, do not force it. Instead, call your dentist to find help and determine the cause, particularly as the baby tooth may still be connected to the roots and cause your child pain.

Paying Attention to Permanent Teeth

As a child’s permanent teeth grow in, the gradual emergence of them will cause the root of the original baby tooth to dissolve. Thus, the loose teeth will eventually wind up beneath a pillow.

“A primary tooth falls out because it is being pushed out of the way by the permanent tooth that is behind it,” Nemours KidsHealth explains. “Slowly, the permanent teeth grow in and take the place of the primary teeth.”

In some cases, parents may notice the adult teeth growing behind the baby teeth, thereby causing them to erroneously believe they need to remove the baby tooth. This is incorrect, however, and it is best to wait for the baby tooth to fall out naturally.

Solutions with Setzer, Cochran, and Soares

Again, we would like to emphasize the fact that, if you cannot get a baby tooth out, you should call your pediatric dentist. You do not want to unwittingly cause your child more dental pain or cause the tooth to be prematurely removed.

“When a baby tooth is lost too early, the permanent teeth can drift into the empty space and make it difficult for other adult teeth to find room when they come in,” the American Dental Association (ADA) affirms. “This can make teeth crooked or crowded.”

That being said, if you have further concerns or questions regarding baby teeth — or if you’ve noticed crooked permanent teeth growing in and would like to learn about our orthodontic services — we encourage you to call us here at Setzer, Cochran, and Soares Pediatric Dentistry!

From baby teeth to permanent teeth, we look forward to offering your family a warm welcome and a beautiful smile! To learn more or schedule an appointment, contact our office today by calling 904-733-7254 (Jacksonville) or 904-473-0600 (Ponte Vedra).