Losing teeth can be an exciting phase for kids, they get to play tooth fairy and show off their gapped tooth smile. But when dealing with loose baby teeth, the excitement can quickly turn into panic. As parents and caregivers, it is important to know how to handle the situation calmly and effectively. In this article, we'll share tips on how to keep a loose baby tooth from falling out.
Why It's Important to Save That Tooth
A common misconception among parents is that since baby teeth will eventually fall out anyway, there's no need to save them if they're already loose. However, keeping the original set of teeth intact has many benefits such as:
- Proper speech development
- Maintaining proper chewing ability
- Preventing future dental problems like overcrowding
So before you reach for those pliers (we see you!), let's explore some ways to help your little one keep their precious pearly whites.
Determine if It Needs A Little Wiggling
The first step in determining what needs fixing is assessing what does not need fixing at all (unless you're an amateur dentist) because sometimes a wiggly tooth requires nothing but patience. Give it time: loosely hanging on by a thread is not necessarily a bad thing as long as it doesn't hurt or bleed – every kid usually plays with these through tugging with fingers or even waiting till it falls naturally.
If however after observing closely,you feel that the movement of your child’s gum-infested shining ivory-like treasure also involves extraordinary displacement then now would be the apt time take action!
Encourage Wiggle-Free Foods
One way of making sure those treasured pearls stay put until they are ripe enough for extraction is by ensuring children eat foods that don't require much jaw movement nor involve putting pressure on said jewels; foods such as rice porridge, banana, avocado and custard can be ideal if you don’t want the tooth to go all tango dance when they bite into something crunchy or hard.
Avoid Crushing Objects
As much as we’d love to ease off that pent-up frustration by crushing some ice cubes or munching a raw carrot after cultivating a feeling of jealousy over our young ones being able to wiggle their piece of bone without worries – it’s imperative that children with wiggly teeth avoid foods that crunch or require sizable jaw movement; biting into apples, carrots (and chicken bones...let's not even entertain those) are best avoided until the said fragile but mighty little nugget drops out like knight in shining armour.
Use Mouthwash
A lukewarm saltwater rinse does wonders for wounds (apart from war and other types) AND loose baby teeth too- while mouthwash helps keep bacteria at bay when dealing with choppers hanging by a thread so make sure your little human swishes some every day - this might help in stabilizing wobbly babies before turning them over for extraction!
Tip: If your child isn't keen on the taste of regular mouthwash, try picking one up from store shelves made for kids.
Soften Up That Apple
For kids who just can't give up their fruit cravings,it's okay to indulge them as long as the respective food item is softened beforehand: boiled apples are softer than fresh ones and will not inflict any forceful stress whatsoever onto delicate tooth fairy treasures!
If despite taking precautions,the unfortunate happens-make an appointment/consult your pediatric dentist within 24 hours-The affected area ought to be cleaned by gently using mild non-alcoholic antiseptic preferably brushed around impacted cavity. Cover the cavity tightly with small dental wax piece...
WAIT A MINUTE!! How did we come full circle? Why didn’t we think of this simple excursion before? THE PEDIATRIC DENTIST! Most if not all parents harp on how a visit to the dentist can sometimes be detrimental to children (cue imagined wails).Nevertheless making sure they get an expert opinion might just be what your kid's chomper needs-Remember the golden rule: Never pull out baby teeth at home!
Conclusion
Helping kids navigate their way through losing their baby teeth requires patience, understanding and some helpful tips. Encouraging them to wiggle-free foods like custard or banana, avoiding crunchy items such as carrots or chicken bones along with consulting pediatric dentists when necessary is a great combination towards keeping your little one’s oral health in check. And with that being said our work here is done - 'casually' ends article fingers crossed for potential high ratings wink wink