Did you know your child’s first set of teeth are not just called “baby teeth”? They are also called milk teeth! A child losing their milk teeth (or baby teeth) is a memorable event for the child as he or she gets to experience the first set of changes in a plethora of changes which occur in their body as they start to grow up. While change is exciting, children in general may not welcome the change all too well and hence it becomes extremely important for the parent or guardian to help the child be at ease with the process of losing their teeth. We talk about things which the parents or care givers can do to help their child losing their teeth.

Generally, the loss of the milk teeth happens in the same order as they first started growing, which means the front tooth would be lost at first, followed by the teeth adjacent to it on both sides and so on until the molars are lost at the end. The first incisors are lost when the child is around six to seven years old, followed by the lateral incisors, which are lost at the age of seven to eight. The loss of incisors may mean a temporary difficulty for the child in biting to food, and here you can help your child by dissecting their food in small sized piece so there is less cutting and biting involved. The loss of incisors may also mean that your child develops a temporary lisp. At the age of nine to twelve, the child will lose their larger teeth, particularly their molars. Their remaining teeth would also be lost by this age, with replacement permanent teeth sprouting up one by one.  While biting would not be a problem as the replacement incisors grow up by this age, proper brushing and flossing must be done by the child to ensure that the food stuck within the gaps left by the lost tooth are kept clean.

During the teeth loss process, you can encourage the child by emphasizing and reiterating proper oral and dental hygiene tips. You can help remove the fears of the child with regards to teeth loss and help them lose their weak loose teeth by asking them to push and pull it with their tongue in order to wiggle the tooth loose and ultimately get rid of it. Care must also be taken to make them aware of the discomfort caused during the process and making them understand the reason behind the discomfort. A dentist can also help the child be aware of the entire tooth removal process and make the child feel confident as well as explain them about the slight bleeding caused when the teeth is removed. You can also encourage your child when they lose their tooth by making up stories about their teeth to help them feel better and excited about their change of teeth as they grow up. You can also help the child understand the difference between their older and newer teeth and try to satiate their curiosity if they ask any questions about the process. While typical tooth loss and growth does not require dentists’ intervention, in case of serious gum issues or pain, you can take the child to the dentist so that they can pinpoint the source of the issue.

NC Pediatric Dentistry specializes in dentistry of kids by making dentistry a fun yet memorable process for the kids. Their team is extra caring yet efficient and knowledgeable in various dental procedures and processes and can help your child get rid of their dental ailments while providing quick relief.