Dental Health Check with Dr. Linda Niessen
Dental health topics from Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of Dentistry
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 Pulling Baby Teeth

By Dr. Linda Niessen
Monday, November 15, 2004

Also Online

Parental dilemma: pulling baby teeth

09:15 AM CST on Monday, November 15, 2004

By DR. LINDA NIESSEN / Baylor College of Dentistry

Melissa Harrison has five children and has learned from trial and error about pulling baby teeth. "Don't pull it," she recommends. "Just twist it around, wiggle it, play with it and it will come out."

That's good advice for her six-year-old daughter, Elaine, who had three loose teeth: one upper front tooth and two lower ones.

"Nature has a tendency to just take care of itself," said pediatric dentist Dr. Derek Zurn. "Let it run its course. We do not want to tie the tooth to a doorknob, don't want to tie it to a trailer hitch. You don't want to do anything of that nature."

Wait until the tooth is very loose. Freeze a cold washcloth and give the child the cold cloth. Suggest a twisting--not a pulling--motion.

"You can give just a little gentle twist, and that helps a lot," Zurn said.

If your child develops double teeth (a permanent tooth behind a baby tooth), don't panic. Just make an appointment with the dentist.

"That's not a dental emergency," Zurn said. "Certainly it's something you want your dentist to look at, but nothing that has to be seen immediately."

Avoid talking about pain, blood, or shots when teaching your children about their teeth. Always stay positive

And when in doubt, talk with your dentist.

Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and  the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.

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