How To Make Your Child More Comfortable After A Tooth Falls Out
Losing baby teeth is a completely normal process to go through, but so are growing pains. Children can be left sore after a tooth falls out, even if nothing external was done to speed up the process of it coming out. If your child has recently lost a tooth and is complaining of discomfort or you just want to help reduce the risk of an infection developing, here's what you need to do.
Salt Water Rinse
Salt water rinses are very soothing for upset gums, and the salt in it is antibacterial. As a result, rinsing with salt water can help to kill off some of the bacteria responsible for gum infections.
By encouraging your child to rinse with salt water, you can not only ease their discomfort but also help to prevent an infection from developing where the tooth has fallen out. Some gum tissue is often torn or damaged when a tooth comes out, so until that mends, the salt water will help to gently control bacteria without adding additional pain, like mouthwash would.
Gentle Brushing
For the next few days after your child's tooth has come out, they need to have their teeth brushed extremely gently. Whether you're still brushing them or your child is, you need to follow this process.
Abrasive brushing can potentially cause the open gum gap to bleed or become irritated. It may also be sensitive after losing its tooth. You shouldn't avoid brushing the area entirely, as it can accumulate food debris that can lead to a gum infection. Instead, use very light strokes while brushing the area where the tooth has fallen out.
See Dentist
If your child's condition doesn't improve quickly, you should stop by a dentist's office. It's possible that something has gone wrong with your child's tooth coming out.
Other than the potential for infections, it's possible for your child to experience other problems when their teeth come out, too. For example, a tooth root could still be under your child's gums instead of properly being absorbed back into the body. With the rest of the tooth gone, it can begin to break down and cause serious pain, infection, or bleeding. If this is the case, the dentist will be able to tell with an x-ray and can extract the root so that it doesn't cause any more problems.
Dental care isn't typically required when a child has a tooth come out, although you should plan on seeing your child's dentist more often during the years that they're losing teeth. Set up a schedule with your dentist and find out how often they recommend seeing your child and any other general dentistry services that may be recommended.
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