Pediatric Dentistry: Why Your Child May Need to Pull Out a Tooth

Not every wiggling tooth is ready to come out. Sometimes baby teeth act quite stubborn. Sometimes you see your kid practically spinning that tooth in a complete circle, but the tooth hangs on for a while longer. You might find it tempting to pull the tooth yourself, but as pediatric dentistry professionals, we advise you to wait it out! Pulling your child’s tooth should be a last resort until it’s absolutely ready. In some situations, however, your child’s tooth needs to be pulled. Before you tie that string to the doorknob, you should always consult an expert in pediatric dentistry about pulling the tooth. The team at Parkcrest Dental Group can tell you when and why your child’s tooth needs to come out, and the safest way to do it.

You Might Affect the Incoming Tooth

A healthy baby tooth falls out to make way for a permanent tooth just below the surface. It doesn’t take a pediatric dentistry genius to recognize the stages. First, the baby tooth feels a bit loose. Then, your child might be able to wiggle it back and forth. Finally, the tooth falls out on its own. You might think, why not just get it over with? Well, the roots are actually dissolving and making way for the permanent tooth during this process. If you pull the tooth before it’s ready to come out, it might disrupt the process and cause the new tooth to come in improperly.

You Could Hurt Your Child

Any pediatric dentistry professional will tell you that many loose baby teeth still hurt when pulled. If your child still feels pain when they wiggle their tooth, then sit back and stay patient. It’s not ready, and you could cause excessive pain. This isn’t just a problem when the tooth is pulled, but could also cause future problems. Children are impressionable, and associating losing their first tooth with pain or discomfort will make them a lot more squeamish when the rest start to get loose.

So When Do I Pull?

If your child has any teeth at all, they should see the dentist. You should help them take care of those early teeth by brushing twice a day. Once more teeth come in, you can help your child floss as well. Your child should know how to brush her own teeth by the time her teeth start falling out. If you didn’t take these steps, however, there’s a chance your child could get a cavity. Rarely do children’s teeth deteriorate to the point that they must be pulled, but in some instances, it might happen. Unless a loose tooth is causing significant pain issues or problems with eating or speaking, you don’t need to worry about that wiggly tooth. Let nature do its job!

Contact a Pediatric Dentistry Expert in Springfield, MO

If you ever have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s teeth, contact Parkcrest Dental Group. We are the leading providers of pediatric dentistry in Springfield, MO, and we would love to help you keep your children’s teeth as healthy as possible!