If a child has a loose tooth, it can be exciting for them, especially if they believe in the Tooth Fairy. In adults, the tooth may begin to wobble as a result of gum disease or injury. You can remove such a tooth at home with clean hands and a toothbrush. Also, in some cases, you can loosen a tooth with crispy foods. If you do not dare to do it yourself, contact your dentist.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: How to loosen a tooth with clean fingers or a toothbrush
Step 1. Wash your hands well
Before touching the tooth with your fingers, wash your hands with antibacterial soap and warm water. Rinse off dirt, bacteria and germs from your hands to avoid introducing any infection into your mouth when you touch your tooth.
- If running water is not available, you can wash your hands with hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer must contain alcohol and be antibacterial.
- Your child should have clean hands before loosening a tooth. Check how he washes them, or help him wash them.
Step 2. Wiggle the tooth with your finger
Touch the tooth with your index finger. Do not twist or push the tooth from side to side, as doing so can cause pain and damage your gums.
- Tell your child what to do to avoid damaging the tooth and gums.
- Milk teeth, which fully erupt by the age of three, should be fairly malleable. If the time has not yet come for the tooth to fall out, then it will not be possible to loosen it greatly.
Step 3. See if it hurts to loose your tooth
Pay attention to any painful sensations while trying to loosen the tooth. If you feel a sharp pain, then, probably, the time for him to drop out has not yet come.
Do not loosen the tooth until the pain is gone. Then loosen the tooth more and pull it out
Step 4. Brush your teeth to loosen it
You can also pull out a tooth with a toothbrush. Try wetting your toothbrush and gently loosen the tooth with it. It is not necessary to rub and scratch the tooth strongly with a brush.
If, when brushing a tooth, it loosens and does not hurt you, then it is time for it to fall out. Otherwise, do not touch it at all, so that it falls out over time
Step 5. Rinse your mouth when a tooth falls out
If the tooth falls out naturally, there should be no heavy bleeding. Rinse your mouth with water to rinse the blood out of your mouth.
If the tooth is knocked out or pulled out with force, the wound may bleed more. You may need to bite down on a piece of clean gauze or cotton wool to absorb the blood. The bleeding may stop within an hour
Method 2 of 3: How to loosen a tooth using crunchy foods
Step 1. Take an apple or pear
Apples and pears are quite crunchy fruits that can help loosen a tooth. With an apple or pear, try taking a bite to loosen the tooth.
Do not try to push the tooth out with an apple or a pear to loosen it. This can damage your teeth and gums. Instead, take a bite of an apple or pear and chew on it to loosen that tooth
Step 2. Take corn on the cob
Another crunchy food that can loosen a tooth is corn on the cob. Take a bite of a piece of corn to loosen a tooth.
Step 3. Take a bread or bagel
Soft but crunchy baked goods like bread or bagels are also a great way to loosen a tooth. Using bagels that are soft enough can loosen a tooth without damaging it. Toast the bread or bagel until crisp and use it to loosen a tooth.
Method 3 of 3: Make an appointment with your dentist
Step 1. If there is a chance that a tooth is infected, or if a molar is loose, see your dentist
In adults, it is common for a tooth to become loose due to grinding of teeth or gum disease. In some cases, this is due to an injury. If a molar is loose or you suspect it is infected, see your dentist.
- If a tooth hurts or hurts to touch, it is most likely infected. The gum area around the tooth can also be painful, swollen, or red.
- If you notice that your child has a loose tooth that seems to be infected, make an appointment with the dentist immediately.
Step 2. Talk to your dentist about treatment options
The dentist will examine the tooth and determine if it is susceptible to any infection. You may be offered splinting to fix a movable or loose tooth. It may be necessary to wear the splint for two weeks until the tooth heals and anchors in the gum.
- If the tooth is loose due to the grinding of teeth known as bruxism, a special mouthguard may be needed, which is worn at night while sleeping.
- If a tooth is loose due to gum disease, deep cleaning of that tooth may be necessary.
Step 3. Discuss with your dentist if you need to remove a loose tooth
If a tooth is infected and is wobbling and cannot be saved, it is probably best to remove it. In accordance with your pain threshold and which tooth is removed, the dentist will select the type of anesthesia so that the removal procedure is as painless as possible for you. Dental implantation or partial dentures may then be required to replace the tooth.