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Loose Tooth
In children a loose tooth is usually the result of an exfoliating baby (primary) tooth or trauma.
In the case on the left, the new permanent tooth is starting to erupt into the oral cavity. However, the primary tooth has not fallen out.
What to do for a loose baby tooth:
Have your child "wiggle" the tooth themselves, pushing it everyday a little at a time. As more of the root of the tooth goes away, the primary tooth may fall out by itself. This may happen spontaneously, or during eating and chewing food. If you can see the new tooth coming in through the gums and the primary tooth is only slightly loose but not enough for your child to remove it, call our office for an appointment. It is important to remove over-retained primary teeth so that the new permanent tooth can come in straight.
What to do after an accident:
If your child's tooth is loose due to an accident, rinse and cleanse the injured area with warm water and then check for broken tooth fragments. If all the teeth are intact, gently touch the traumatized tooth to check for looseness. Place cold compresses over the area of the injury on your child's face. Keep your child on a soft diet of soups, yogurt, or liquids for 2-3 days to prevent further damage.
Disclaimer
Doctor Haeberlein, Dr. Wang and the other Doctors in the Discovery Dental Group make no warranties, expressed or implied, as to any results to be obtained from use of the information "What should I do in a Dental Emergency." We cannot diagnose or treat patients over the Internet. Information on this site is for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for personal, medical, and/or dental attention or diagnosis. Without all available information about a patient, it is impossible to make a diagnosis. Help and answers are in the form of general ideas. Only you, your dentist, and other necessary and qualified health care providers can make an appropriate treatment decision in an emergency or for everyday care and dental treatment.
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