Dealing with my first wiggly tooth. The best way to pull it? Use a string or finger or something else?
Or should I leave it alone?
It came out today! When my daughter pushed it out with her tongue, it just popped out. She wasn’t even trying to force it out.
I’m so surprised by the answers! Most of you advised that I leave the tooth alone. But almost everyone I know use a string or their fingers to pull out their children’s teeth. I myself have pulled out my own teeth growing up.
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To answer Diane B's questions:
1. My parents never did anything for my wiggly teeth or suggest that they do anything. I pulled out my own teeth, but don't exactly remember what I did -- it was decades ago! Plus, I would think that pulling out one's own teeth is different than pulling out someone else's. I would think a different technique would be used.
2. Despite the fact that I myself pulled my own teeth and I am surrounded by those who pull their children's teeth, it felt wrong somehow -- it went against my instinct. My gut was telling me to leave my daughter's teeth alone. So I decided to ask the moms here.
Leave it alone. It will fall out when it's ready.
I've never seen a child respond well to an adult offering to help their tooth alone. Why cause drama?
leave it alone. give the kid an apple when it's really loose.
khairete
S.
One of my kids used to yank his - couldn't leave them alone, and he was brave. Would work them out. The rest all just let them come out on their own, and they would sometimes take days and be in there at odd angles.
I used to give them hard things to eat sometimes and that would work.
I never pulled them myself.
Leave it alone. Either it will fall out when it's ready, or it will get so loose to the point that it's barely hanging on and it will drive your kid crazy and he will pull it himself. Either way - no involvement from you is needed.
Also don't be surprised if you never find it. We had one tooth that was eaten in a piece of cantaloupe and another that fell out while the kid was sleeping and never found. One fell out on the playground at recess, never located. Etc. If you are talking about the tooth fairy, have a backup plan in place for this.
I don't know of any parent who pulls a wiggly tooth. Why would you? What is bothering you about it? Surely your dentist didn't tell you to remove it, right?
Leave nature alone in 99% of cases.
ETA: I'm surprised by your SWH. I see 2 options: a) if you think it's normal to pull teeth and you pulled your own, why did you ask how? b) if you think it's normal and everyone you knew did it, why did you even ask?
Eeek why would you pull it!? Just let it fall out, there's no need to put your kid through unnecessary pain and trauma!!!
Leave it alone. It will fall out when it's ready.
I was going to say leave it alone. Glad it came out that way. It's really the best
option.
Sometimes when it's ready to come out & they play with it with their tongue, it will pop out. :)
Glad to hear it came out on its own....I was going to say leave it alone. My sons loose teeth always came out eventually on their own
I'm glad it came out! I let my kids deal with it themselves. I never do anything. If they talk about it, I tell them to wiggle it and eventually it'll pop out! My 8 year old daughter just had a loose canine tooth that was bothering her and she got fed up and pulled it out herself...she was delighted when it came out super easily and told everyone that day. It's the only time she has pulled on a tooth though. As you know, the tooth underneath is growing upward and even if you don't wiggle it or do anything at all it is just going to come out on it's own. Kids seem to get excited about it and want to wiggle it with their tongue though. I let them do what they want and make their own decisions regarding their teeth. I just act excited for them. Yay! You have a loose tooth! Cool! Maybe the tooth fairy will bring you something. Wiggle it with your tongue. If they say it hurts I say, well, don't touch it then if it hurts...or eat on the other side of your mouth if it hurts. I never do anything besides that. My oldest is 14...trust me...you don't have to pull teeth unless there is some kind of problem.
Let your child play with it if they want to. If they ask you for help them help. I know they drove me crazy when mine where loose. One of my sons as soon as they wiggled he was getting it out and that other didn't want to mess with them. I had to tell him to pull one when it was hanging and he was whining that it hurt. He would not let me touch it but let his older brother assist.
Take your fingers & twist! If that doesn’t work then have the child keep wiggling & try again later or next day. When there wiggling that much it just attached at the gums. Good Luck
Updated
Take your fingers & twist! If that doesn’t work then have the child keep wiggling & try again later or next day. When there wiggling that much it just attached at the gums. Good Luck
