We’ve all seen the viral videos and heard the family stories featuring creative ways to remove baby teeth. As interesting as these stories and videos may be, a lot of these methods might not be safe. You may be asking yourself how to pull a baby tooth. Let’s look at 3 safe methods.
The Classic String and Doorknob Method
This tried-and-true technique involves tying one end of a piece of string to a doorknob and the other around the loose tooth. Shut the door, taking care to not slam it too hard. The tooth should slip right out.
The Fly Ball Method
Tie one end of a string around a baseball or softball, and the other end around a loose baby tooth. Gently toss the ball a few feet in the air. Hit the ball, but don’t apply too much force. The tooth should fly right out with the ball.
The Doggy Treat Method
This technique involves a little help from your furry friend. Take a piece of string and tie one end around your dog’s collar and the other end around the loose tooth. Throw a treat to your dog so that they run toward it. The tooth should come out easily. And hey, your dog gets a treat to boot!
How to Help Your Child Remove Their Own Tooth
Most of the time, baby teeth fall out without much help. Once the tooth is loose, however, it’s important to not try and pull it out too soon. Baby teeth help guide adult teeth before they even come in.
Here are some tips to help your kid remove their loose tooth on their own:
- Encourage them to wiggle the loose tooth with their tongue. Oftentimes kids don’t need to be told twice!
- Tell them to NOT poke the tooth with their hands. It’s all too easy to use too much force when handling the tooth. If your child’s hands are dirty, that can also introduce harmful bacteria into their mouth.
- Don’t worry about blood. If a tooth comes out when it’s good and ready, it shouldn’t bleed too much at all.
There are a lot of unsafe ways of removing baby teeth, but here are 3 that actually work and never get old. When in doubt about what time your little one should be losing their baby teeth, consult your pediatric dentist.
About the Author
Dr. Tera Pollock is a children’s dentist who practices at Rowlett Dental Kids in Rowlett, TX. She earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Baylor College of Dentistry in 1993. She is also trained in sedation dentistry to make getting dental work done a whole lot easier for your child. For more tips concerning your little one’s baby teeth, contact Dr. Pollock at (469) 284-8895.