A child makes an important step in life when they lose their first baby tooth. While people across the world mark the loss of a child’s first tooth as a time to celebrate growing up, many children can experience some anxiety about losing their teeth. After all, these are the only teeth they’ve ever known! Here are a few ways to get your child excited about losing their first tooth, growing up, and taking excellent care of their oral health!
Explain the Situation
A child may begin to lose teeth around four, five, or six years of age. At these ages, children understand that they will eventually lose their teeth and may not be sure how to feel about it. When your child asks about losing their teeth, tell them that it is just a natural and healthy part of growing up. Explain that it is to make room for a set of bigger, stronger adult teeth that will last for the rest of their lives, and losing the tooth shouldn’t hurt at all and will only bleed a little bit if the tooth is ready to come out.
Make Losing Baby Teeth Fun!
Some parents decide to call in the Tooth Fairy to help make losing baby teeth fun for children. The Tooth Fairy, in various forms and guises, has helped children celebrate their growing smile by leaving a small treat under their pillows in exchange for a lost tooth. Lately, she has decided to take a more active role in protecting children’s oral health by also leaving them supplies like toothbrushes and dental floss.
Make Sure Your Child Knows How to Lose Teeth the Safe Way
A child’s loose tooth can become irritating after a while, and they may be tempted to poke and prod at it to help work it out of its socket. Unfortunately, their fingers can often cause injuries by applying too much force, and they can also expose the mouth to harmful bacteria. Tell your child to brush and floss as they normally would while using their tongue to wiggle their tooth. This will gently help it on its way out of the mouth.
A child losing their first tooth should be a fun moment in their lives. These tips can help your child avoid injuries and stay positive about the whole process.
About the Practice
Sprout Dentistry for Kids of McKinney makes children’s oral health a priority in McKinney, TX. Led by Drs. Justin Chan and Sage Yoo, the staff makes it easy for kids to get excited about oral hygiene and dental healthcare. Areas of expertise include general, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry. For more tips about helping your child stay positive about losing their first tooth, contact the office online or dial (469) 813-7127.