When your child has a loose and wiggly tooth that just won’t budge, it can be very tempting to pull it out yourself. But performing a tooth extraction yourself — even if it’s with a loose tooth — can have some unintended consequences on your child’s oral health. Here’s why you shouldn’t pull your child’s loose baby tooth.
Why Are Baby Teeth Important?
Baby teeth are a child’s very first set of teeth. They typically erupt from the gums when the child is between six months and a year old. Baby teeth help create and maintain the shape of a child’s mouth and jaw. They help them eat and talk until their adult teeth are ready to grow in. Baby teeth are important placeholders as your child’s mouth grows. After all, there’s no way a child could have a full set of adult teeth without experiencing significant crowding issues!
Pulling a Loose Baby Tooth
Although it can be very tempting to pull out your child’s loose baby tooth, there’s a reason why we don’t recommend you do it. It’s fine to let your child gently wiggle their loose teeth, but it’s not always good to force something that isn’t quite ready to come out. When a child loses their baby teeth prematurely, their adult teeth may not grow properly. It can even affect their jaw strength. Some of the common consequences of prematurely losing baby teeth are crooked teeth and overcrowding, which means your child may require orthodontic treatment in the future.
Take Care of Baby Teeth
The above reasons are why taking care of baby teeth, including diligently brushing them, is so important. Baby teeth can develop cavities and decay, and it’s especially important to make sure that they’re healthy and strong so they can make way for healthy adult teeth. If your child has a bothersome wiggly tooth, you can rest easy knowing it will come out when it’s ready to!
Affordable Pediatric Dentistry in Pleasanton, TX
Even though their baby teeth are temporary, your child should see the dentist as soon as their very first tooth erupts. Teaching your child good oral healthcare habits as early as possible will help them have strong, beautiful smiles for a lifetime! Pleasanton Children’s Dentistry & Braces proudly delivers superior, affordable dental care for young patients. Contact us to schedule an appointment today!
