You can also wash your hands with hand sanitizer if you do not have access to running water. The hand sanitizer should contain alcohol and be antibacterial. If your child is trying to loosen their tooth, make sure they wash their hands well. You may wash their hands for them to make sure they are clean.
Instruct your child on how to do this so they do not damage the tooth or their gums. Baby teeth that are fully erupted by the age of three should wiggle around fairly easily. Teeth that are not ready to come out may not move around much when you try to wiggle them.
Let the tooth sit in your mouth until you can wiggle it without any pain. Only then should you try to loosen it more or remove it.
If the tooth feels loose when you brush it and you don’t feel any pain, it may be ready to come out. Otherwise, you may want to leave it alone until it falls out on its own.
If the tooth is knocked out or wiggled out, it may bleed more. You may need to bite down on a piece of clean gauze or a towel to soak up the blood. It can take up to an hour for the bleeding to stop.
Do not try to drag the apple or pear against the tooth to help loosen it. This could damage the tooth and the gum area. Instead, bite and chew the apple or pear to loosen the tooth.
A tooth is likely infected if it is sore or painful to the touch. The gum area around the tooth may also be painful, swollen, or red. If you notice your child has a loose tooth that appears infected, bring them to the dentist right away.
If you have a loose tooth due to grinding your teeth, known as bruxism, you may need to wear a special mouth guard at night when you sleep. If you have a loose tooth due to gum disease, you may need to have deep cleaning done on the tooth.
Having an implant will prevent your other teeth from pulling out of their sockets to try to fill the space.
