Between ages 6 and 13, your child’s baby teeth will fall out to make room for permanent adult teeth. The primary teeth are usually lost in the order that they come in, so the bottom two teeth will be the first to go, followed by the top two. The question we answer for parents is, “should we pull the loose tooth?”
In some cases a baby tooth can become loose due to decay or damage, but this can lead to the permanent tooth coming in too soon and spacing issues. This is one of the reasons that we recommend consulting with your dentist about any loose teeth.
In terms of taking any action on your own, Dr. Frank Sierra’s advice is to “Let your child wiggle the baby tooth until it falls out on its own. This cuts down on any pain or bleeding that may occur by removing the tooth by force, and before it is ready.”
Another danger to removing the tooth too early is the risk of infection or damage to soft tissues of the gums. Letting the nerve dissolve naturally is the best course of action.
Some parents worry about the child swallowing the tooth by accident, but that is harmless. Makes for difficulty in placing the tooth under their pillow for transaction with the Tooth Fairy, but she’ll understand.
