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To Pull the Tooth or To Save the Tooth? That is the question!

Tips on Understanding the Difference

There is nothing like that rush of pure excitement as a young child the first time you notice that first loose baby tooth! This moment is followed by an unbreakable urge to rush to your parents or friends and explode in rambling words explaining how it feels! Ahh good memories. Once the excitement and adrenaline wear off, the next questions patients frequently ask are…

‘Okay, now that my tooth is loose, when is the proper moment to pull my tooth?’ and ‘Is it even necessary to get my tooth pulled or extracted?”

 Let us first examine reasons that cause loose teeth and then how to best remove those teeth!

Causes for Loosening Teeth: Youth

Why Is It Loose?

When a child comes to you frantically informing you that their tooth is loose, this is most likely because It’s time for their baby tooth to exit and the adult to make an entrance. Normally, the first baby teeth that come in are one of the first teeth to fall out and be replaced with your adult teeth. Of course, there’s always chance occurring when stepping out into the world and so if there were an accident and the child’s tooth became loose unnaturally, make sure to see your dentist immediately!

What Goes In, Normally Must Go Out

For the most part, the tooth comes in first is the first to go. The normal progression of baby teeth beginning to fall out occurs near the ages of 6 and 7. The cause in effect that is causing these teeth to fall out is natural dissolve. Once a baby tooth’s roots have begun to dissolve, they then loosen up in the mouth and eventually fall out, leaving room for the permanent adult teeth to come in.

So.. How to We Properly Remove Then?!

With children and removing their temporary baby teeth, comfort and timing is the name of the game. As silly as this may sound, we of course do not recommend you take plyers to the tooth and yank it out right away… Nor is it recommended we use the age old ‘string tied to a doorknob’ trick…

Thankfully for us all, we have smartened up in our tooth removal techniques. The most efficient and healthy way to remove a baby tooth is either simply let time take its course and allow the tooth to fall out naturally, DO NOTHING! But being we’re human, if we must allow angst take control, gently wiggling your tooth back and forth, as well as side to side with your tongue further loosening that tooth and more quickly allowing it to fall out; normally without causing extra undo harm to your mouth or gums.

Attempting to remove a loose tooth before it’s ready could lead to inflammation, pain and discount, and bleeding in the area so please make sure to be patient and careful with your body!

Causes for Loosening Teeth: Adults

Now, contrary to baby teeth, we are given one set of adult teeth ONE TIME, meaning, when they’re gone, those pearly beauties are gone. There is light at the end of the tunnel however! As long as we take normal care of our teeth and mouth hygiene, there’s a good chance those adult teeth will be with us to stay for the long haul.

Well, if my adult teeth are the last set I get, and they cannot repair themselves… How the heck do I know whether to Save or pull the tooth?!

The simple truth of the matter is the condition of that tooth. In an ideal world, all adults would be well aware of the importance in recommended dental visits and maintaining a healthy mouth hygiene routine using proper products. Let’s jump back to reality now… Life happens, accidents occur, and genealogy always reminds you it’s in the background.

Below are a few unavailable factors that can impact your teeth make you debate, Pull or Save…

  • Periodontal disease
    • Any disease (such as gingivitis or periodontitis) affecting the periodontium, which are tissues surrounding, supporting, and protecting your teeth.
  • Osteoporosis
    • A decrease in the amount and thickness of bone tissue, causing bones to become weak and break more easily. Older age, hormone changes, certain medicines, and not eating enough foods with calcium and vitamin D can all be potential causes of Osteoporosis.
  • Trauma
    • Self-explanatory right? Not as much as you’d think. Yes, physical trauma is obvious, getting hit in the mouth, falling face first, biting into something very hard, and the funny but sad, smacking your yourself in the teeth with a hard object on accident haha. We’ve all been there.
    • A couple major teeth trauma’s that go unspoken are the effects teeth grinding and clenching as well as potential acid reflex that can break away at our teeth.

Adults! Consider the NEW Natural Way

Like it was as children, we all understand going to our routine dental check ups is not something we’re giddy about looking forward at our calendars. And unfortunately, we can’t all pull of the Austin Powers look. Another long overdue trend that it out also is the macho go to… “Ehh my tooth doesn’t hurt that much, it always comes and goes, it’s fine.” Ohh how often we hear those dreaded words.

If as adult you’re experiencing intense tooth aches, pains, sore or bleeding gums; the first thing to do is call your dentist and make an appointment. Trying to be a hero and figuring “I’ll just pull it out!” can cause numerous other complications, broken tooth fragments turning into infections and simply a must worse time ahead. If that’s not enough convincing, with the advancements of dental technology, we’re able to save more teeth than ever before. Repairing a tooth through a root canal process can not only save the pertinent aspects of your tooth structure but will also allow the remaining teeth to keep their straight position for there is no void from the missing tooth since we saved and improved it through a root canal!

Instead use these simple techniques…

  • Reframe from sugary drinks and starchy foods
    • Rise and swoosh mouth with water after consumption
  • Begin or continue to floss your teeth
  • Brush your teeth thoroughly morning and night

Rise mouth with doctor recommended mouth wash

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