ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR KID LOSING TEETH
Written by Feba Maryann
My sister’s boundless excitement of her son losing his teeth used to fascinate me. Her camera roll was filled with photos of my nephew’s proud toothless grins. As white teeth slowly started erupting from his gums, she used to run her fingers over the top of his emerging teeth until my nephew bit her fingers. While her son was fascinated, my sister rode an emotional roller-coaster. She was proud of the big boy he was growing up to be, but the fact that his baby days were over tugged her heart.
The time your kid starts losing teeth is both exciting and intimidating. You finally realise how big your kid’s grown and how far you’voe come as a parent. Here are a few points you need to keep in mind during this stage of your child’s development:
When Do Kids Start Losing Teeth?
Your kid’s teeth fall off to make way for the adult teeth to come in. Baby teeth start wiggling at the age of four; most kids lose teeth from the age of five to fifteen.
If your child starts losing their teeth early, it could be due to injuries or gum issues. On the other hand, some kids don’t lose teeth even by the time they reach eight years old. Consult a dentist right way to cheque if there are any underlying issues.
Kids with special needs tend to follow a different pattern. Gender also plays an interesting role; girls lose baby teeth faster than boys.
How Should I Assist In The Process?
Gone are the days when our parents use to force our teeth out by tying a string to the doorknob, a trick that was followed by bleeding gums and vanilla ice-cream. You don’t have to use brute force to yank your kid’s loose teeth. Let it fall out normally to prevent any damage to the gums. Encourage your kids to wiggle their tooth slowly so that it falls out naturally. Regular brushing at the gum line accelerates the process.
Talk to your children about this, let them know that this is normal and explain to them why their teeth are falling out. Some kids struggle to cope with their new look; it might also take time to adjust with the gap, prepare them for the changes.
A lot of families have a tooth fairy tradition to commemorate this milestone. You could always look up for unique ideas on the internet to help make this a fun process. As a kid, my mom used to tell me to put my tooth under my pillow for the tooth fairy to come and pick it up at night. I always used to wake up the next morning with a small gift box filled with candy beside my bed.
You could also read fun and educational books like the “The Last Loose Tooth” by Tyler Clark to help them understand better.
What’s Next?
There’s nothing cuter than a 5-year-old’s innocent gap-toothed smile. Loosing one small tooth can completely change your child’s appearance; it gives your child a remarkably mature look. Help them build confidence in their new look and encourage them to embrace themselves.
Make sure your kid brushes their teeth twice a day. Use a low-fluoride toothpaste and a pea-sized amount. Flossing also helps with keeping your child’s teeth clean. Supervise them and give them help until they learn to be independent.
When the adult teeth start coming through, they tend to be more ridged. Teach them about good oral hygiene as this is the set of teeth they need to live with for the rest of their lives. When the molars erupt, your child might feel some pain. Over the counter pain medications can generally solve this issue.
Visit your dentist every 6-12 months. Public dental providers offer free service for children up to a certain age in Australia. You can always look up for clinics near you in your state’s health department website.
If you opt for private dental services, you have to pay for all the expenses, but if you have private health insurance, you will get some money back.
This experience can be challenging for many parents. The thought of our precious baby, growing up into the category of a “big kid” can get scary. Learn to love every minute of the parenting journey and celebrate every milestone reached, making memories every step of the way.