What Parents Need To Know About Kids Losing Teeth

As a parent, every milestone our children go through is both exciting and educational. As a first-time parent, we learn everything we can, either deliberately or by experience. The same is true with baby teething and kids losing teeth. Here’s what you need to know about kids losing teeth.

WHEN SHOULD MY CHILD LOSE THEIR TEETH?
Teeth usually start getting loose because the adult (or permanent) teeth are pushing on them and are ready to come in. Kids tend to lose teeth in the same order the got them, most commonly the front teeth, followed by the canines and working back to the molars.
Baby teeth (also called primary teeth) begin to wiggle as early as age 4 and you will see kids losing teeth between the ages of 5-15.
Baby teeth can also be lost due to injuries or dental issues such as gum disease or cavities. Some parents think that baby teeth don’t require the same care as adult teeth since they will be lost, but this isn’t the case. In a “premature loss”, it is critical to see a dentist to prevent more significant future issues.
If your child hasn’t lost any teeth by age 8, or if adult teeth erupt before the baby teeth have fallen out, talk to your dentist to make sure there are no problems.

SHOULD I PULL A LOOSE TOOTH?
It is best to let baby teeth fall out naturally to prevent trauma to the gums around the tooth, which may already be sore. Your child will likely play with the tooth, wiggling it with their tongue or fingers – this is natural and encouraged. Make sure you talk to your child about what will happen when they lose the tooth, especially if they are going to school.

THE FUN STUFF
Many parents want to help celebrate this milestone using the tooth fairy tradition. There are loads of cute ideas floating around the internet – everything from notes to the tooth fairy, special pillows or boxes, cute picture ideas and more. A long-standing part of the tooth fairy tradition is the financial reward for the child! And while this amount varies widely by family, Delta Dental tracks the going rate on their Tooth Fairy Poll – currently $4.13 per tooth in the United States!

Have more questions about kids losing teeth? All of us here at Hannon & Sandler are here to help answer those questions and keep your entire family’s teeth healthy.