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All kids get loose teeth that fall out – it’s the body’s natural way of making room for adult teeth and starts around age six. It's best to let baby teeth fall out on their own if possible. [1] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source However, if your kid is determined to get their loose tooth out, you can try a few tactics. Loose adult teeth, on the other hand, are a serious problem and you should never try to pull them out on your own. It's difficult to pull out your own teeth, plus it's painful and could be harmful to your health.
Steps
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Watch for wide movement. Before anyone tries to pull a baby tooth out, it should be moving quite a bit. That is, your child should be able to move it back and forth and side to side without much pain. Lots of movement means the tooth is about ready to come out. [2] X Research source
- As noted, it's always best to let the baby tooth fall out on its own if possible.
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Wiggle it often. Wiggling it is a great way to start getting that tooth out. Have your child wiggle it around with their tongue. They can do this movement throughout the day until the tooth falls out. Tell your child to only wiggle it as much as they can without discomfort. [3] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Have the child chomp on hard foods. To speed up the loosening process, offer carrots, apples, or other crunchy foods to help loosen the tooth gradually. It might even come out on its own with the child barely noticing.
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Pull it out with a tissue. The best way to pull out a kid's tooth is to grasp it with tissue or gauze. Try to pull the tooth out with a gentle tug. If the tooth is especially resistant or the child cries out, it's best to wait a few days. However, the tooth will often come right out. [4] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- Some kids won't like you touching their teeth at all, and in that case, it's best to leave it alone. You can also let the child try to pull it out themselves.
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Consult the dentist. Try to be sure that the tooth is naturally loose, rather than from an accident, decay, or another reason. Talk to your doctor if you have doubts. If it takes more than two to three months to come out, it's also a good idea to see the dentist. Ask whether or not the tooth should be removed or left to fall out on its own. [5] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- After consulting the dentist, be sure to follow their advice exactly.
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Care for the gums. If the area is bloody after the tooth falls out, hold a cotton ball gently to the gum. You can also have the child bite on it. You may need to hold it on as long as 30 minutes, as gums take longer to clot than other parts of the body.
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Visit a dentist. If at all possible, you should go to a dentist to extract an adult tooth. Your adult teeth have longer roots, making it much more painful to remove an adult tooth. Plus, you'll likely have infection underneath that the dentist will need to deal with. [6] X Expert Source Tu Anh Vu, DMD
Board Certified Dentist Expert Interview. 10 April 2020.- Tooth extraction is a serious medical procedure. Apart from being painful, you can lose a lot of blood and develop an infection without proper care.
- If you can't afford a regular dentist, look for a dental school in your area that may do it cheaper. Also, many cities have free or cheap temporary dental clinics from time to time, which may make it affordable for you.
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Don’t attempt to remove the tooth. Never try to remove an adult tooth on your own. It’s a job that should only be left to licensed dentists. Trying to extract a tooth on your own – or with the help of an unlicensed dentist – could put you at risk of serious medical complications.
- Be aware that there are many things that could wrong. The tooth could be improperly removed, causing infection or nerve and tissue damage.
- Also know that practicing dentistry without a license is illegal. Depending on where you live, it can be either a misdemeanor or a felony and lead to fines, probation, or even imprisonment. [7] X Research source
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Take pain medications. Having a tooth removed can be a painful procedure. Try an NSAID like ibuprofen or naproxen sodium for pain. Acetaminophen is also okay. [8] X Expert Source Tu Anh Vu, DMD
Board Certified Dentist Expert Interview. 10 April 2020. Skip aspirin, as it could make the bleeding worse. [9] X Research source- Taking vitamin C may also help the healing process.
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Be especially gentle for the first 24 hours. Don't rinse your mouth for the first 24 hours. You can eat and drink lukewarm food, though not in the area where you removed the tooth. Make sure you're eating on the other side. You need to leave the hole alone as much as possible. [10] X Research source
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Avoid alcohol for the first 24 hours. Alcohol may seem logical since it can help you avoid the pain. However, it can keep the wound from healing properly. In addition, it can make it bleed more, which you definitely don't want. [11] X Research source
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Brush your teeth after the first 24 hours. You will need to brush your teeth, but you should wait a day. When you do brush your teeth, be especially gentle around the extraction site. You don't want to pull up the clot accidentally. [12] X Research source
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Use a saltwater rinse. [13] X Expert Source Tu Anh Vu, DMD
Board Certified Dentist Expert Interview. 10 April 2020. It can also help to rinse with saltwater after the first 24 hours, which can remove some bacteria. Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water. Swish it around in your mouth for 20 to 30 seconds, particularly near the clot, and then spit it out. [14] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionCan I pull my own tooth out?Dr. Tu Anh Vu is a Board Certified Dentist and Owner of Tu's Dental, her private practice, in Brooklyn, New York. With over six years of clinical experience, Dr. Vu helps adults and kids of all ages get over their anxiety with dental phobia. Dr. Vu has conducted research related to finding the cure for Kaposi Sarcoma cancer and has presented her research at the Hinman Meeting in Memphis. She received her undergraduate degree from Bryn Mawr College and a DMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.If you're losing an adult tooth, you should see a dentist to help determine the cause and prevent bacteria from growing.
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QuestionI have a loose baby tooth and I tried eating some hard foods, but it still won't come out. What should I do?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.If it is loose enough and the root resorption has begun due to the permanent tooth that is growing, the baby tooth will eventually come out when eating crunchy food. If you can see the permanent tooth growing next to the baby tooth and the baby tooth is still not moving, then you should go to a pediatric dentist.
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QuestionHow to get a very very loose tooth out without much pain?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.The best way to do it is to pull it out fast. Try using the method with the dental floss. Make a strong knot around it and also make sure the floss is strong enough and then ask someone to pull it out for you. There are plenty of online tutorials where you can see the exact method.
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Tips
- If your tooth is giving you pain and is not yet ready to come out, take some painkillers and/or numb it with ice.Thanks
- Go to the dentist and ask them it’s better off asking a professional dentist to take out teeth properly so it won’t hurt.Thanks
- If it is a baby tooth then it will come out when it is ready.Thanks
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Warnings
- Again, NEVER try to extract an adult tooth on your own. You should only have this procedure done by a licensed dentist.Thanks
- Never try and pull a tooth out using a doorknob and string. It can damage teeth and gums.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/expert-answers/baby-teeth/faq-20058532
- ↑ https://www.patientconnect365.com/DentalHealthTopics/Article/Should_You_Pull_Out_That_Loose_Tooth
- ↑ https://www.babycenter.com/0_losing-baby-teeth-what-to-expect-and-when_3658971.bc
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/expert-answers/baby-teeth/faq-20058532
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/expert-answers/baby-teeth/faq-20058532
- ↑ Tu Anh Vu, DMD. Board Certified Dentist. Expert Interview. 10 April 2020.
- ↑ https://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/practicing-dentistry-without-a-license.htm
- ↑ Tu Anh Vu, DMD. Board Certified Dentist. Expert Interview. 10 April 2020.
- ↑ https://www.dentalhealth.org/tell-me-about/topic/routine-treatment/what-to-do-following-an-extraction
- ↑ https://www.dentalhealth.org/tell-me-about/topic/routine-treatment/what-to-do-following-an-extraction
- ↑ https://www.dentalhealth.org/tell-me-about/topic/routine-treatment/what-to-do-following-an-extraction
- ↑ https://www.dentalhealth.org/tell-me-about/topic/routine-treatment/what-to-do-following-an-extraction
- ↑ Tu Anh Vu, DMD. Board Certified Dentist. Expert Interview. 10 April 2020.
- ↑ https://www.dentalhealth.org/tell-me-about/topic/routine-treatment/what-to-do-following-an-extraction
About This Article
Article Summary
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If you’re ready to pull out a loose baby tooth, make sure it wiggles easily back and forth without much pain. Move it back and forth with your tongue as much as possible and chomp on hard foods like apples and carrots to loosen it. To remove the tooth by hand, grasp it with a tissue and pull it out with a gentle tug. Afterwards, hold a cotton ball to the gum to stem the bleeding. If you’re dealing with a loose adult tooth, don’t try to pull it out on your own—this could cause serious injury. Instead, visit a dentist to see if it needs to be extracted. To learn about what to do after your tooth falls out, keep reading the article!
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Reader Success Stories
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"Awesome! My tooth came out!"
"What stood out was the majority of assumptions that only children have a loose tooth. So I used the tip to pick it out with a clean piece of handkerchief. This was after I used my tongue to ensure it was loose enough to gently lift it out."
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"This helped me because I have a loose tooth right now. I am 7-years-old and I was wiggling it with my hands, but when I read this, it started moving with my mouth."
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"I didn't know some of these tips before, like give it 100 tugs and it was very helpful. I'm going to try to get one of my baby "fang" teeth to come out."
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"It helped to get it so much more loose, I only need like 2 roots to pull out. Thanks for the help, the doctor said it will come out in 6 or 7 hours."
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