How to Pull a Loose Tooth

Losing a tooth, especially the very first one, is exciting for a child. Years ago, kids would tie one end of a string to their loose tooth, the other end to a doorknob and then slam the door shut to remove the tooth. That might have worked sometimes but today we know better. Help your child pull his tooth without damaging his gums or the new teeth underneath.

Instructions

1. Be sure your child washes his hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap to remove as many germs as possible before he sticks his fingers into his mouth. Then he is ready to begin to try to pull out the loose tooth.

2. Wiggle the loose tooth back and forth. Do this over and over again until the tooth is as loose as possible.

3. Try pulling the tooth upward and out with your fingers. If it refuses to budge, repeat Step Two. If ithe tooth is extremely loose, you should be able to remove it without a problem.

4. Try eating an apple with the loose tooth. This will sometimes jerk the tooth loose from the gum.

5. Let an adult try to pull the tooth. If the child experiences pain, it is a good idea to wait until it becomes a little looser or let time take care of it-when the tooth is ready to come out, it will.

6. Put pressure on the bleeding gums with a towel or gauze pad once the tooth is removed to stop the bleeding. Have your child lean slightly forward to avoid swallowing blood which could upset the stomach.

7. Help your child put his tooth under his bed pillow so the tooth fairy can find it easily.

Tips & Warnings

• If bleeding doesn't stop after fifteen minutes, you may need to seek medical treatment.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
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