Download Article
Download Article
Losing baby teeth is a rite of passage for children. If your child's tooth is loose and ready to fall out, you might have questions about how you can help them. Luckily, most of the time it's just a matter of waiting until the tooth is ready to come out. However, there are a few cases when you might need to take your child to the dentist, like if the tooth is loose because of an injury or their gums bleed for longer than 15 minutes after the tooth falls out.
Steps
Question 3 of 12:
How do you pull out a loose tooth yourself?
Download Article
-
Grip the tooth with a tissue or a piece of gauze. Teeth can be slippery, making them hard to grip—especially super-small baby teeth. To help you hold the tooth firmly, put a folded piece of tissue or gauze over the tooth before you try to grab it.
- Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before you put your fingers in your child's mouth.
- You can also wear a pair of rubber gloves to help you get a better grip on the tooth.
-
Squeeze the tooth firmly and tug. Using the gauze pad, grasp the tooth and pull up firmly but gently. You can also add a slight twisting motion as you pull. If it's ready, the tooth should come right out. [5] X Trustworthy Source HealthyChildren.org Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Go to source
- If the tooth doesn't come out easily, it isn't ready yet. Try again in a few days.
- Work quickly—the faster you pull the tooth, the less it will hurt.
Advertisement
Question 4 of 12:
How do you get your child to let you pull their teeth?
Download Article
-
Talk to them about the tooth fairy. If your child needs a little encouragement, try talking to them about what the tooth fairy will bring them in exchange for their tooth. This might help them be excited enough to let you pull their tooth. [6] X Research source
-
Wait until they're ready. Don't force your child to pull their tooth or let you pull it—the tooth will likely fall out on its own without any help at all. However, if you want to help it along with a little pull, talk to your child first. If they want your help, then you can go ahead.
- In most cases, your child will be able to remove the tooth on their own just by playing with it. [7] X Research source
Advertisement
Question 5 of 12:
How do I numb a loose tooth?
Download Article
-
Use a numbing cream on the gums. If your child's tooth is loose enough, pulling it shouldn't be painful at all. However, if your child is nervous that it will hurt, you can ease their mind by asking their doctor or dentist to recommend a safe over-the-counter anesthetic. [8] X Research source
- Simply rub a dab of the ointment onto your child's gums and wait a few minutes for it to take effect, then pull the tooth.
-
Give your child a cold treat to help numb their mouth. For a quick at-home option, have your child suck on some ice before you pull their tooth. You could also give them a cold treat like a popsicle or a snow cone—this might be just the trick to help put a nervous child at ease. [9] X Research source
- If you use ice cubes, remind your child not to chew on them, as that could damage their teeth.
Advertisement
Question 7 of 12:
What do I do after the tooth falls out?
Download Article
-
Stop the bleeding with a sterile piece of gauze. Even if the tooth was very loose, there will likely still be some bleeding. Take a fresh, sterile piece of gauze and press down on the tooth socket. Have the child bite on the gauze piece for 15 minutes or so. This will help to control the bleeding and help the wound heal faster. [12] X Research source
- If the bleeding doesn't stop after 15 minutes, call your child's dentist.
-
Remind your child this is a big milestone. Whether this is your child's first lost tooth or they've been through this a few times already, take a minute to congratulate them! If they're feeling a little overwhelmed by losing their tooth, they'll appreciate the positive attention.
-
Keep brushing and flossing as normal. Your child's gum might be a little tender where they lost their tooth. However, they'll still need to brush and floss the rest of their teeth the way they usually would. Just remind them to be gentle when they brush in the area where their tooth fell out.
Advertisement
Question 11 of 12:
When should I go to the dentist for a loose tooth?
Download Article
-
See your doctor if the tooth isn't loosening on its own. If you notice that your child's tooth is a little wiggly, but months pass and it hasn't really changed much, it's a good idea to set up an appointment. The dentist will be able to check whether their permanent teeth are developing properly and whether any extra help might be needed. [18] X Trustworthy Source HealthyChildren.org Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Go to source
- You'll also need to see the dentist if the permanent teeth have completely erupted but the baby teeth haven't started to loosen yet.
-
Visit the dentist if the tooth is loose because of an injury. If your child got hit or fell and hurt their mouth and now they have a loose tooth, make an appointment with the dentist as soon as possible. The dentist will examine your child’s mouth to figure out if the tooth is loose because of the injury or because it’s time for the tooth to fall out. Then, they’ll help you decide how to treat the loose tooth. [19] X Trustworthy Source HealthyChildren.org Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Go to source
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Search
-
QuestionMy daughter is now 13 and she has a tooth that bothers her too much and it's completely loose. The problem is that it seems to be stuck to her gum and when we try to pull it she is scared that her gum will also come off!Dr. Macau is a Doctor of Dental Surgery based in London, England. Dr. Macau is an oral surgeon, periodontist, and aesthetician at Favero Dental Clinic where he is known for his cosmetic dentistry and facial aesthetics work. He is actively involved in scientific research in the field of dentistry and he received his DDS from Carol Davila University of Medicine in 2015.Try showing her a youtube video of funny moments filmed by parents when pulling out teeth of their children. She can find that comforting and may realize that there is nothing to worry about if a five-year-old kid can pull out teeth by herself. If this doesn’t work make an appointment with a pediatric dentist.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
- If your child has not lost any teeth by the age of seven, then just do a check up with your dentist to make sure that there is no problem or to know if all the permanent teeth are under the gums with the help of x-rays. [21] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to sourceThanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
Warnings
- If you pull the tooth and there is severe bleeding for more than 15 minutes, then go to your dentist immediately.Thanks
- If you try to pull the tooth and it’s not ready to come out, then don’t force it. Wait for few days or a week and give it a try again.Thanks
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/how-to-remove-baby-tooth-at-home-painlessly/
- ↑ https://www.dispatch.com/story/lifestyle/health-fitness/2013/12/29/your-kids-are-quite-capable/23538376007/
- ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/oral-health/Pages/When-Children-Begin-to-Lose-their-Baby-Teeth.aspx
- ↑ https://www.dispatch.com/story/lifestyle/health-fitness/2013/12/29/your-kids-are-quite-capable/23538376007/
- ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/oral-health/Pages/When-Children-Begin-to-Lose-their-Baby-Teeth.aspx
- ↑ https://www.familyeducation.com/life/losing-baby-teeth/removing-childs-loose-tooth
- ↑ https://www.dispatch.com/story/lifestyle/health-fitness/2013/12/29/your-kids-are-quite-capable/23538376007/
- ↑ https://www.dispatch.com/story/lifestyle/health-fitness/2013/12/29/your-kids-are-quite-capable/23538376007/
- ↑ https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/how-to-remove-baby-tooth-at-home-painlessly/
- ↑ https://www.todaysfamilydentalnj.com/blog/how-not-to-pull-a-loose-tooth/
- ↑ https://www.dispatch.com/story/lifestyle/health-fitness/2013/12/29/your-kids-are-quite-capable/23538376007/
- ↑ https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/how-to-remove-baby-tooth-at-home-painlessly/
- ↑ https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/how-to-remove-baby-tooth-at-home-painlessly/
- ↑ https://www.familyeducation.com/life/losing-baby-teeth/removing-childs-loose-tooth
- ↑ https://www.dispatch.com/story/lifestyle/health-fitness/2013/12/29/your-kids-are-quite-capable/23538376007/
- ↑ https://childrensedationdentist.com/loose-tooth-requires-trip-childs-dentist/
- ↑ https://www.kidsteethsc.com/what-are-shark-teeth-in-kids/
- ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/oral-health/Pages/When-Children-Begin-to-Lose-their-Baby-Teeth.aspx
- ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/symptom-checker/Pages/symptomviewer.aspx?symptom=Tooth%20Injury
- ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/symptom-checker/Pages/symptomviewer.aspx?symptom=Tooth%20Injury
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/childrens-health/expert-answers/baby-teeth/faq-20058532
About This Article
Article Summary
X
If you want to pull a loose tooth at home, you’ll need to test the tooth to make sure it’s ready to be pulled. First, wiggle it around to make sure it moves easily. If there’s some resistance, the tooth is not ready to be pulled, because it could cause bleeding or an infection. If you decide your tooth is ready to be pulled, wash your hands thoroughly to guard against infection. Then, wipe the tooth a couple of times with cotton wool to remove saliva, which can be slippy. Afterwards, put some gauze between your thumb and forefinger, and take hold of the tooth. When you’re ready, pull the tooth sharply to remove it. Remember to seek medical attention if pulling the tooth causes pain, or if it’s come loose due to an injury. For tips from our Dental co-author on how to pull your child’s teeth, keep reading!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 234,413 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "It helped me. I have not done it yet, I'm afraid to take my tooth out, but it IS ready. I know what to do, I just need to clean with a tissue or something and be brave. This article helped me lots, I recommend reading it. I'm a 9 year old and I'm gonna try." ..." more
Advertisement
"It helped me. I have not done it yet, I'm afraid to take my tooth out, but it IS ready. I know what to do, I just need to clean with a tissue or something and be brave. This article helped me lots, I recommend reading it. I'm a 9 year old and I'm gonna try."
..."
more
"I have a tooth growing and pushing my baby tooth forward. This helped calm me when my mum told me that I had two days to pull it out or I'd go to the dentist because we are not sure it is a baby tooth."
..."
more
"This helped me a lot. I'm 9 years old and weird but I think with this I'm ready to pull out my dangling tooth and get sweet money. This article is helpful and I would recommend this to others!"
..."
more
"I had a dental phobia of my baby tooth removal at home but once I finished reading this article, I was much more comfortable to take out my tooth. I was really scared but thanks to wikiHow."
..."
more
"It helped me because I ate an apple and it was stuck and my mouth was bleeding. Thank you for helping."
