Dental care for your kids when they start losing baby teeth

Primary (baby) teeth fall out when the adult teeth begin moving up into the jaw and basically push the root of the baby teeth out. Children begin having loose, wiggly teeth around age four and begin losing their baby teeth between the ages of five and seven on average. At the same time, the molar teeth grow in, which can result in discomfort.
The permanent, adult teeth appear in the order that the baby teeth came in, and the baby teeth serve the important function of guiding the permanent teeth into place. By age eight, the four teeth in front on both the top and bottom have been replaced. The rest of the children teeth (cuspids and primary molars) fall out between the ages of 10 to 12.
It’s common for children to feel some apprehension over losing their baby teeth. They’re worried that it will hurt or that people will poke fun at them for having a missing tooth. If your child shows any signs of worry, talk to them. Explain that everyone goes through this transition that any bleeding they experience is normal and that losing your tooth isn’t painful.

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Since dental hygiene during childhood and the period when we transition between baby and adult teeth determine our future oral health during adulthood, proper dental habits are essential. Here are tips to help you set up your child for a lifetime of good dental health during this period.
Wiggle it
When your child has a wiggly tooth and wants to play with it, let them. Instruct them to first wash their hands though, to keep infection at bay, and then wiggle the tooth if they want to. Letting your child wiggle the tooth until the tooth comes out naturally will not only keep any discomfort they’re feeling to a minimum but will help minimise any bleeding associated with losing the tooth when it does fall out.
The thing to remember is that wiggling teeth is ok, but actually pulling them out prematurely can result in a broken root, which is more prone to infection. That goes for your family pulling the tooth out yourselves. The old dental floss and door hack is tempting, but not only can it cause the issues associated with premature tooth loss, it can also be quite frightening if your child is feeling any anxiety over losing their teeth.

Brush… gently
Since it can take anywhere from a few days to a few months between when a child notices their tooth is wiggly to the tooth falling out, brush gently during the transition period. Brushing vigorously can cause the tooth to fall out prematurely, which can sometimes lead to problems with spacing later, such as when the adult teeth do not have enough room to grow in properly. Moreover, gentle brushing lets your child clean their teeth without aggravating the newly exposed area. To encourage good habits when young, have your child use a toothpaste they like, which typically means a toothpaste targeted at children.
Gargle when a tooth falls out
Once your child loses a tooth, have them gargle with warm water. Gargling, especially with a salt water, rinses and keeps the area clean, while also controlling any accompanying bleeding. If your child’s gums continue bleeding despite gargling, have them bite down on a clean towel or some gauze; the bleeding should last no more than an hour.
Choose smart snacks
Along with gentle brushing and flossing daily, encourage your child to be snack smart. Avoid having them eat or drink items that contain a lot of sugar and/or carbohydrates or that are acidic. Such items promote cavity production and lead to further issues down the road. Instead, teach your child to enjoy healthy choices such as water, fresh fruit and vegetables, and plain yoghurt.
By having your child learn to eat healthily in childhood, they are setting the foundation for healthy permanent teeth, and for a lifetime of good oral health.