The loosening of that first baby tooth is a big deal – it’s a sign your child is growing up. But some kids can be traumatised by the experience, as they can associate a wiggly tooth with potential pain down the line. Here are some suggestions on what to say to help them overcome their fears.
Teeth need to come out…
Babies’ mouths are not big enough for a full set of teeth, which they will need when they grow up. You get 20 “milk” teeth when you’re a baby, that you use to bite and chew food, and to fill up spaces in your mouth until your jaw has grown enough to hold 32 adult teeth. Eventually, those baby teeth will finish doing their job, and will have to go!
They start to feel wiggly because…
There’s a big tooth underneath that is ready to come through. When it starts moving into place, it dissolves the root of the baby tooth, until there’s nothing left to hold it in place. That’s when it knows it’s time to come out.
Wait until they’re ready to fall…
Trying to pull it out any sooner can be painful and could cause an infection. Feel free to gently wiggle the tooth, as this will help prepare it to come out, and if it is just hanging on by a thread, ask a grown-up to turn it, as this may get it out. If it feels like you need to tug really hard, then it probably isn’t ready. And don’t even think about tying a piece of string around it and yanking it out!
It’s not a race…
The amount of time it takes for teeth to fall out varies from one person to another. Some kids lose their first teeth when they are five, while it doesn’t happen for others until they are seven or eight. Most kids begin to lose their teeth around the age of six, and all adult teeth will normally be in place by 13 years.
Don’t demand too much…
The Tooth Fairy has a budget to stick to. (We asked readers on Facebook how much the Tooth Fairy pays their kids on average, and the standard answer was a gold coin.) However, sometimes she refuses to pay up until kids have tidied their messy rooms or completed chores around the house! Another method of encouraging dental care is to claim that the tooth fairy pays a little bit extra for cleaner teeth.
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