That Glorious Gap-Toothed Smile
By Gina Ritter
Never have I seen a child so excited to lose a tooth as my second-born son. It was one of the biggest signs of becoming a big kid to date and coincided with his learning how to whistle and finishing his first chapter book in the same weekend. Finally, he was a big boy! Now he wouldn’t be the only one in class who hadn’t lost a tooth.
When the first tooth wiggled just a little, we warned him not to push on it too much. He was on top of the world— that is, until he couldn’t chew without his top tooth colliding with the bottom, causing him pain. He cried about the pain and the annoyance on and off for a few hours before the tooth finally plunked out and hit the floor.
When do teeth fall out?
An early teether as a baby may loose teeth earlier in childhood as well; you may have a child of only 4 years loosing her first tooth. However, it’s better for a tooth to stay longer under the gum line, since it will be hardier and less cavity-prone.
Typically in the fifth or sixth year, your child will begin to lose the two bottom front teeth, followed by the two front top teeth. Any child over 7 years old who has not lost a tooth should take a precautionary visit to the dentist to be sure there are no problems. X-rays may be suggested to check for teeth under the gum line.
Once in a while a child will grow “shark teeth,” with the new teeth growing in behind the baby teeth, pushing them out in a few weeks. This is actually quite normal, but you should visit the child’s if you have questions or if the “shark teeth” remain for two or three months.
How should the tooth come out?
The root of the tooth begins to dissolve over weeks or months, causing the tooth to fall out. Baby teeth need no help coming out unless they’re literally hanging by a thread ,causing gum pain. Please don’t allow extreme measures like using string to pull the tooth! Some teeth may come out by being caught in a piece of food or even harmlessly swallowed.
Wiggling a tooth is fine, but this shouldn’t be encouraged to the point of pain. Hands should be washed beforehand to prevent germs from entering the mouth and root area. The root needs time to dissolve; otherwise, breaking a tooth off at the root could cause infection. If a tooth is very loose but just hanging on, you might use fingers, washcloth or tissue to turn the tooth around, literally rotating the tooth in its socket.
If your child is experiencing discomfort, offer liquids, soups, and all the mashed or pureed foods she can tolerate to keep her well nourished until the tooth comes out. If she is experiencing pain and swelling from her six-year molars arriving at the same time, treat this with your usual brand of pain reliever or a topical tooth pain-relieving gel.
Ok, the tooth has come out! Now what?
New teeth waiting below the gum line will soon grow in, and sometimes they’ll look oddly large and not as nice. Ridges will show across the top, they’ll be off white and they’ll look as if they’re twice the size they should be. Don’t worry! Your child will grow into them. Visit a dentist if the teeth are twisted, crowded or otherwise obviously abnormal.
Don’t forget to brush!
Be sure your child continues to brush twice daily and floss with your help if needed. In all the excitement, kids may be inclined to forget or want to skip their tooth brushing routine.
© Gina Ritter
Gina Ritter owns and publishes Natural Family Online under the umbrella of Blame Mama Media™. She also partners with another natural family practitioner to bring you the Balter Catalogue Company and Balter Wholesale.
