Right from the first wiggles to that last tooth fairy visit, you probably have plenty of questions about your child losing their teeth. If you want to know about the process of a child losing their baby loose tooth – from what’s normal to when you should seek medical professional help, this article can help!
Losing baby teeth is a significant and exciting aspect of a child’s life because it’s the beginning of their journey into adulthood. Therefore, it can be accompanied by varying emotions for the child, as well.
It is important for you as a parent to understand what to expect when your child starts losing their baby teeth, the physical changes that may occur, and how to help your child manage the discomfort or anxiety that comes with losing baby teeth.
What to Expect When A Child Loses Their Baby Teeth
Losing baby teeth is natural and it is among the parts of a child’s normal growth and development. Once a child’s permanent teeth begin to grow in, they will start to push their baby teeth out, which will cause the loss of the first set of teeth.
This is what you can expect during this process:
Timeline
On average, children start losing their baby teeth between ages 6 and 7 years old and they usually continue until they are 11 or 12. Therefore, the process in which the teeth fall out varies.
Based on research, the front teeth are the first to go before other baby teeth, including incisors and molars, begin to remove naturally.
You need to know that this is a natural process among children between the ages of 6 to 12. There is no need to panic, but instead, help your child to reduce the pain by providing the necessary information as their teeth begin to move.
Physical changes
Once your baby’s teeth begin to fall out, you may notice physical changes, especially in the mouth. Their gums will begin to swell or become tender, and this may lead to bleeding, especially immediately before or after the tooth falls out.
Some children may also experience mild pain or discomfort.
Once you start to notice any physical change, especially negative ones, you may want to seek the help of a healthcare professional. They will be able to reduce the pain by prescribing necessary drugs or injections that are needed as soon as possible.
Although it is a natural process and it does not typically need medication, if it comes with severe pain, your child may need something to help.
Emotional changes
It is not a pleasant experience for a young child to lose baby teeth, it is always an emotional time.
During this period your child may feel excited about the tooth fairy’s visit but may feel anxious or nervous about losing a part of their body. At this moment some children may fall sick for a long time until they complete the process of losing teeth.
Proper dental care
As a parent, you need to take good care of your children’s dental health as soon as they begin to grow baby teeth. Likewise, when they begin to get rid of baby teeth.
Proper and effective dental care will help to reduce the pain of teeth loss. You will be able to get the right information that will help the process and make it so easy and simple for your child.
Invest your time by visiting a professional dentist for a regular teeth checkup for your child so that they will get the right information and treatment if it is necessary.
It’s important to continue practicing good dental hygiene during this time. Make sure you allow your child to brush their teeth twice a day and floss to keep their gums healthy and prevent infection.
Common sickness of losing baby teeth
An average child develops some sickness when they begin to lose their teeth. There are numerous common illnesses and health challenges like irritability and loss of appetite. Some sicknesses like vomiting, headache, fever, and diarrhea also can occur.
As your child begins to lose their baby teeth you need to prepare to treat several illnesses that come with it so that you will be able to reduce the pain as soon as possible.
When to seek professional help
It is important to seek professional help especially if you are a new parent with little or no experience with baby tooth loss.
Getting the right information will help you to do the right thing at the right time which will reduce the pain that comes with losing a baby tooth.
As soon as you realize that your child begins to develop some illness and experience severe pains like a headache, gum bleeding, or showing several signs of infection, then you need to seek professional help from a dentist.
You can help your child navigate this process so that they have a healthy tooth.
How to reduce tooth pain
It is very important to know how you can reduce tooth pain especially when your child is going through severe tooth pain.
You don’t need to invest in any product or gadget to get rid of a toothache whenever your child is going through it. Here are some ideas:
- Help your child to rinse his or her mouth with a saltwater solution to help clean their gums.
- Use a little gauze to cover the area, which is known as a socket, and encourage them not to spit, as this can cause bleeding.
- Grab a cold, wet cloth after any bleeding has stopped if there’s pain or discomfort.
In Conclusion
Losing baby teeth is a milestone in a child’s life, and it’s usually an emotional time for both children and parents. As a parent, you need to be aware of what to expect when your child begins to lose their baby teeth, physical changes, and emotional changes they may experience.
If you provide the necessary dental treatment and support for your child, then you will be able to make the process easy and healthy.
It is advisable to consult a dentist when your child begins to experience severe pains, bleeding, or signs of infection, it’s crucial to seek professional help from a dentist.
I’m very sure with the information in this article you will be able to care for and provide the necessary attention for your child when it comes to losing baby teeth. Make sure you help your child feel confident and comfortable during the process of transition from baby teeth to permanent teeth.