Should I pull out my child's wobbly baby tooth or wait?
In most cases, wait. A wobbly baby tooth usually falls out on its own as the adult tooth dissolves its root, and gentle wiggling with a clean finger or the tongue helps. Only pull it if it is hanging by a thread and comes out with almost no effort. At Creative Arts in Dubai, a dentist removes a baby tooth that stays firm with an adult tooth showing behind it, is infected or is loose too early.
Who treats you here Dr. Duaa Ameen General Dentist · Dr. Julia General Dentist
Every dentist’s licence can be checked on the DHA Sheryan medical directory.
Why do baby teeth get wobbly?
Each baby tooth has an adult tooth developing in the jaw beneath or behind it. As the adult tooth moves up, it gradually dissolves the root of the baby tooth. With less root holding it in, the baby tooth becomes loose, then looser, and eventually falls out with very little bleeding. The adult tooth then fills the space.
The first wobbly teeth are usually the lower front teeth, at around six to seven years of age, followed by the upper front teeth. The baby canines and molars are lost later, typically between about nine and twelve. The ADA's tooth development chart gives these as typical ranges, and a year either side is common. Our baby teeth chart lists each tooth.
From the first wobble to the tooth coming out can take anything from a few weeks to a couple of months. There is no need to hurry it.
Pull, wait or see the dentist?
A quick guide for parents. If something does not fit, a short check settles it.
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Slightly loose, around the expected age | Wait. Encourage gentle wiggling with a clean finger or the tongue, and normal chewing |
| Very loose, hanging by a thread, child happy | It can come out with a quick, gentle twist using a clean tissue, if your child agrees |
| Loose but painful to touch, gum swollen or red | Do not pull. Book a dental check |
| Adult tooth coming in behind, baby tooth still firm after a few weeks | Book a check; the baby tooth may need removing. See shark teeth |
| Loose after a fall or knock | See a dentist; this is an injury, not normal loosening. See child knocked a tooth |
| Loose much earlier than expected, with no injury | Book a check; very early loosening, especially before about four, is worth investigating |
| Baby tooth still in place well past the usual age | Book a check; an X-ray shows whether an adult tooth is on its way |
How can you help a wobbly tooth come out safely?
- Let your child do the wiggling. Children know how much they can tolerate. A clean finger or the tongue, a few times a day, is enough.
- Keep eating normally. Biting into an apple, a carrot stick or a crust often finishes the job naturally. Very soft diets slow things down.
- Keep brushing. Brush gently around the loose tooth. Avoiding it lets plaque build up and makes the gum sore, which makes your child more reluctant to touch it.
- Only when it is ready. If the tooth is hanging by a thread and your child is willing, hold it with a clean tissue or gauze and give a quick, gentle twist. If it resists or hurts, stop; it is not ready.
- Skip the string and the door. Yanking out a tooth that is not ready can break the root, cause more bleeding and pain, and leave your child frightened of anything to do with teeth.
Not sure whether a loose tooth needs help? Our children's dentistry in Dubai can check it in a short, calm visit and tell you whether to wait or to remove it.
Children's dentistryWhat to do when the baby tooth falls out
A little bleeding is normal. Mixed with saliva it often looks like more than it is.
Press on the gap
Fold a clean piece of gauze or cloth, place it over the gap and ask your child to bite firmly for 10 to 15 minutes without checking.
First 15 minutesKeep it calm
Avoid rinsing hard, spitting repeatedly or poking the gap, which can restart the bleeding. Cool, soft food is fine once the bleeding has stopped.
Rest of the dayClean gently
Brush the other teeth as usual and the area around the gap gently. The gum usually heals within a few days.
From the next brushCall if it will not stop
If the bleeding continues after two rounds of firm pressure, or the gum looks swollen or very sore after a day or two, contact the clinic during opening hours.
If needed
When does a baby tooth need to be removed by the dentist?
Removing a baby tooth is usually quick, with numbing gel and local anaesthetic. These are the common reasons.
| Reason | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| The adult tooth is erupting behind or beside a firm baby tooth | The adult tooth may be pushed off course if the baby tooth stays too long |
| Infection or abscess on a decayed baby tooth | Infection near the developing adult tooth should not be left; see cavities in baby teeth |
| A baby tooth that is retained long past its time | It may be blocking the adult tooth, or the adult tooth may be missing; an X-ray shows which |
| A loose tooth causing pain and stopping your child eating | Sometimes a tooth hangs on by a small piece of gum and is simply uncomfortable |
| Orthodontic planning | Occasionally baby teeth are removed to guide adult teeth into better positions, after an orthodontic assessment |
Our page on tooth extraction explains the procedure and aftercare in more detail.
Swallowed the tooth?
It happens, especially with teeth that come out while eating or sleeping. A swallowed baby tooth almost always passes through harmlessly. If your child coughs, chokes, wheezes or has any difficulty breathing after losing a tooth, the tooth may have been inhaled: go to a hospital emergency department straight away.