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What Parents Need to Know About Kids Losing Teeth

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what parents need to know about kids losing teeth

Your child losing their first tooth is a very exciting milestone! This is one of the only times that your child will be able to physically see that their body is changing and growing. Children are very curious and often have questions about how or why their teeth fall out. Our team at Saby Dental has compiled a list of answers to common questions about loose teeth in Red Deer so that you can help explain this exciting time to your child.

Why Do We Lose Teeth?

Your teeth constantly change and develop throughout your lifetime. When a baby is born, they don’t have any visible teeth because their teeth are still developing beneath the gum line. At about six months of age, your child will begin to show teeth erupting above their gum line, giving them the ability to chew and speak. More commonly known as baby teeth, milk teeth are designed to teach children how to eat and form words. Most children will take about two years to fully develop their set of 20 baby teeth. As your child grows, their jaw will expand, and they will need more teeth to accommodate their meals. As a result, their baby teeth fall out to make room for their 32 adult teeth.

How Do Teeth Fall Out?

When your child is ready for a permanent tooth, their body absorbs the root of their baby tooth, which is what works to keep it in place. When this part of the tooth is absorbed, the tooth becomes loose, allowing it to fall out and make room for an adult tooth to take its place.

How to Take Care of Wiggly Teeth

A wiggly tooth can take up to a month to fall out, depending on how much your child wiggles it and the development of the tooth underneath. It is not a bad thing to let your child wiggle their tooth. If your child notices one of their teeth is loose, let them know that this is normal and exciting. Be sure to tell them that when their tooth is ready to come out, it will do so on its own, so they should be sure not to yank at it.

Oral Care After Losing a Tooth

Right after your child loses a tooth, they may feel a little scared. This is because they have just lost something that they have been used to having for years and because losing a tooth often comes with some blood. Let your child know that blood is normal and help them to thoroughly rinse their mouth out with water to clear up the blood. Make sure to remind your child to keep up proper tooth brushing and to be gentle around the area of the lost tooth until their gums have healed and their new tooth erupts. If you notice that your child is continually bleeding or having problems, make sure to contact a dental clinic near you.

Looking for a Pediatric Dentist in Red Deer?

If you have any questions about your child’s oral development, our dentists are happy to provide loose teeth services near you. At Saby Dental, our team is proud to provide you and your child with top-quality dental services. Our dentists will spend time explaining the process of tooth development to your child and examining them to make sure they are developing at an appropriate rate. Please do not hesitate to book a consultation with one of our pediatric dentists today.

Request an Appointment with Our Red Deer Dental Office