A Guide On How To Pull Out A Tooth Painlessly And Safely
Everyone goes through an awkward growing phase where their baby teeth fall off to give way to permanent ones. And while the process is natural and the teeth fall off on their own, it is not uncommon for parents to lend a “helping hand”.
While the teeth pull-out game helps kids get rid of their hanging milk teeth, it is not recommendable for adults to pull their own teeth. So, whether you need to remove your baby’s tooth or are dealing with a loose tooth yourself, this guide will help you figure out how to pull out a tooth safely and painlessly.
When Does A Tooth Need To Be Pulled?
Children lose all their baby teeth between 6 and 12 years of age. During this period, if the child’s tooth dangles without falling off for a few days, it makes sense to pull it out. However, you must ensure that the child does not report too much pain, as it may indicate that the roots may not have disintegrated.
Adult teeth may need to be pulled out in conditions like tooth decay, wisdom teeth issues, injuries, infections, and crowding.
When Does A Tooth Not Need To Be Pulled Out?
Pulling out loose baby teeth has become a norm; however, there are certain situations where it is better to consult a dentist and not pull out teeth yourself.
Here’s when you should refrain from pulling out a tooth:
• Your child has not reached the tooth-falling age of 6 and has a barely loose tooth.
• In the event of an accident or injury causing your or your child’s tooth to become loose.
• You have a painful or hanging tooth due to infection or other dental conditions.
If you forcefully remove a tooth before it is ready, it can be excruciating and cause problems like heavy bleeding and open wounds. It may also have an impact on how the permanent tooth emerges.
For adults, as there is no tooth waiting to replace the falling one, it creates a gap. This gap can lead to plaque buildup and infection, and a dentist must address it.
How To Pull Out Children’s Tooth
Pulling out teeth can be very painful, so any technique or method employed to remove a tooth must be as painless as possible.
Here are some ways to pull out children’s teeth:
1. Wiggle The Tooth
It is the most common way and generally needs no guidance. Wiggling a loose tooth with the tongue or clean hands will help it loosen further, and eventually, the tooth will fall off.
2. Give Your Child Hard And Crunchy Foods
Foods like apples, celery, and carrots will help loosen the tooth. However, discontinue if the child is experiencing too much pain. Also, instruct the child to spit out the contents if the tooth has come off while biting.
3. Brush And Floss
Brushing and flossing are great ways to loosen hanging teeth. The up-and-down motion of brushing and the back-and-forth motion and curve of the floss effectively loosen the tooth and help it fall off.
4. Use Local Anesthesia Or Ice
If your child is afraid of getting their teeth pulled out or is experiencing pain due to the wiggling motion, you can apply oral analgesic, ice, or local anesthesia to numb the pain. Now, you can use any method you think is best to remove your child’s tooth.
5. Use Sterile Gauze
If your child’s tooth is loose enough, use sterile gauze to remove it. Grip the tooth with the gauze and wiggle it back and forth and to the right and left. This will remove the tooth and the tissue between the gum and the tooth.
6. Use Tweezers
Use clean tweezers to wiggle out a loose tooth. Just hold the tooth with the tweezer and give it a gentle pull. If it does not work, do not apply force. Let the tooth fall off on its own.
7. Visit Your Dentist
If the loose tooth is causing the child severe discomfort or pain, it is better to consult a doctor. A dentist will expertly remove the tooth without causing the child pain.
How To Pull Out An Adult’s Tooth
Pulling out adult teeth is not uncommon; however, loose teeth are hardly the reason. As adult teeth are removed due to medical conditions, visiting a dentist is the only way to remove them.
Removing a tooth by yourself can cause several complications, like tooth fragments left inside gums and infections, so consulting a dentist for tooth extraction is the safest option.
Also, a dentist can help save the tooth so it will not have to be removed. However, if it is very painful, you can try these remedies before opting for the extraction:
• Apply an ice pack on the area of pain.
• Bite cloves with the tooth that is causing pain.
• Apply garlic.
• Do a saltwater gargle.
After Care Tips For A Pulled-Out Tooth
Pulling a tooth can sometimes be a difficult process. However, you can follow these aftercare tips to ease discomfort and pain:
1. If there is bleeding, manage it first. Apply gentle pressure on the bleeding gum to stop the bleeding. Use sterile gauze or a clean cloth to apply pressure.
2. Once the bleeding has stopped, examine the tooth and the gums. Check if the tooth is broken in fragments and if any fragment remains in the gums. If yes, consult a dentist.
3. For the next few days, be gentle with the area. Avoid vigorous brushing or flossing, as it will disturb the blood clot necessary for healing the gums.
4. In case of mild pain, take pain medications prescribed by the doctor.
5. To ease the discomfort, you can also use an ice pack or ice chip. It will numb the area and help get your mind off the broken tooth.
However, if you feel that the pain is too severe or there is excessive swelling or redness, immediately consult a dentist.
