My 8 yr old has had a loose baby tooth since February. She says that it hurts and she can’t chew on the right side of her mouth without having a lot of pain. The tooth wiggles but it doesn’t really look like it’s about to come out. My daughter won’t let me or my husband yank the tooth out. She has tried loosening the tooth with her tongue but that doesn’t seem to help. I am concerned about her pain. I am wondering if I should take her to our pediatric dentist to get the tooth pulled. Dona
Dona,
In the process of losing a primary tooth, the ligaments repeatedly stretch and retighten before the child actually loses the tooth. It may time a little more time for the tooth to fall out. It is not unusual for it to take months for a tooth to fall out once you notice that it is loose. After the tooth falls out, it will take several months before the new one completely erupts.
Prematurely pulling the tooth can traumatize the site. Also, the primary tooth helps to guide the permanent tooth that follows it into the right position. It also reserves the space for the primary tooth. If the primary tooth is extracted too soon, the process may not go as smoothly as it should.
If your daughter is having a lot of discomfort and pain, an appointment with your family dentist may help. He or she will examine and evaluate the tooth to determine if it is healthy and loosening correctly. Your dentist can determine if the tooth needs to be extracted or if you need to give it more a little more time. Meanwhile, your dentist will give you tips on how to make your daughter a little more comfortable while the tooth continues to loosen.
This post is sponsored by Bedminster, NJ dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.