When the time comes and your little one notices their first tooth is loose, they may experience a sense of nervous excitement from a tooth fairy visit and be worried that losing their first tooth might hurt. Exposing them to books, television, and stories can help reassure them that losing teeth is not only no big deal but also exciting!
Dr. Caudill has heard countless stories of how kids lose their first tooth which has led him to a humorous theory that there are pretty much two kinds of kids when they lose teeth. At one end of the spectrum, there are what he fondly refers to as “Incredible Hulk Tooth Wigglers” that will rip out their baby teeth at the first sign looseness. The other are the “Nervous Nelly Tooth Wigglers” that will avoid touching, eating and brushing the area at all cost. These kids seem to struggle every time they have a loose tooth until it eventually falls out with the slightest bump.
Dr. Caudill says in most instances, it doesn’t really matter which type of wiggler you have, however, the non-wiggler type can sometimes allow the baby tooth to deflect the permanent tooth out of place. This is easily noticeable when both the baby tooth and permanent tooth are visible and the baby tooth isn’t loose. This often makes it even harder to get out the baby tooth because the permanent tooth is no longer “pushing out” the baby tooth.
There is quite a bit of age variability when kids lose their first tooth. Some are as young as 4 while others may be nearly 8 years old. Because there are instances where some of the front teeth can be missing or impacted, it is recommended around the age of 7 years old to schedule an orthodontic evaluation. Occasionally, a first phase of orthodontic treatment is recommended to prevent more invasive and time-consuming orthodontics during the adolescent years.
We proudly provide complimentary orthodontic examinations for all new patients which we make super easy for even the youngest kids. They are a great way for the nervous ones to get more comfortable and see how easy and fun orthodontics can be. Scheduling an evaluation at this age is especially important if there seems to be a delay in losing the first tooth or there is a family history of orthodontic problems. Schedule your child’s complimentary exam today!
