A little Q&A on loosing teeth and our favorite friend The Tooth Fairy!

Loosing teeth is a natural process that we all experience. It should be fun and exciting, not something for a child to be afraid of.

1. When should my child start losing teeth?

Most children lose their first tooth around 6 years old. The age can vary from 5-7 years due to early or late physical development.

2. Does this coincide with their first dental visit?  When should this be?

Children should be established with a dental home at 1 year of age. Their first dental visit should coincide with the age at which their teeth are erupting not exfoliating.

3.  What can I do to help alleviate anxiety about losing teeth?

Losing teeth naturally should be a fun and exciting experience. The process of natural exfoliation, or baby tooth loss, is usually not associated with discomfort and, ultimately, children can look forward to a reward from the Tooth Fairy!  Parents can reassure children that every child has to lose their small “baby” (primary) teeth in order to grow their larger “big kid” (permanent) teeth.

4. What happens if my child should swallow a tooth that falls out?

If a child accidentally swallows a tooth that has fallen out, our number one concern is whether or not the tooth was swallowed or inhaled. If your child ‘swallows’ a tooth and has no symptoms, then most likely the tooth will ‘work its way out’ through the digestive system.  If the tooth was inhaled, then we are concerned that your child’s airway could become compromised.  If your child ‘swallows’ or ‘inhales’ a tooth and then has symptoms of airway compromise such as coughing or wheezing, then your child should be taken to the pediatrician or to the nearest emergency department immediately.  If you are unsure of symptoms, then you should take your child to visit their pediatrician for an exam.

5. What happens if a baby tooth gets knocked out before its time?

If a child should experience an oral trauma that causes the tooth to be avulsed (knocked out) before it is time for the tooth to fall out naturally, then your child should visit their dentist immediately. You should have your child’s mouth examined by the dentist for any baby tooth fragments remaining and/or any damage to the permanent tooth or the soft tissue surrounding the area.  If you get an “all clear” on those factors, then the only other thing to be aware of is that your child might be toothless for a little longer than normal due to the permanent tooth not being ready to erupt yet.

6. What is the going rate for a tooth from The Tooth Fairy, according to your sources?

According to our sources… there is no set amount ofmoney or form of prize that can be given. Most of the time, the Tooth Fairytends to give money because it’s a lot easier to fly with. Occasionally, childrenrequest some of the Tooth Fairy’s special sparkle dust, so they will get asmall bag of sparkle under their pillow instead.

The amount of dollars or coins left by the Tooth Fairy depends on several different things, for example,  the size of the tooth, if the tooth had to be extracted by the pediatric dentist or came out naturally, or if it was the first or last tooth to come out.

7. Anything else you’d like to add?

Parents can visit our website http://www.drrohner.com/New-Patients/About-Teeth.aspx and view an interactive chart that shows at what ages which teeth erupt and exfoliate.

I get a lot of questions about what happens if, after you lose your tooth, you actually lose your tooth… It’s lost and you can’t find it!! Some children tend to misplace their tooth, swallow it, or don’t even notice it came out until they see the gap where it used to be. If this happens to you, do not worry! All you have to do is write the Tooth Fairy a small note and place it under your pillow as a replacement for the missing tooth. Be sure to draw a picture of your tooth so I can know what size it was.

***Copyright 2014 Angelica Rohner Pediatric Dentistry