A loose tooth fiasco...Need help immediately!!!!

[bleedingheart]

My daughter has a very loose tooth on the top of her mouth...if she would just let me pull it the ordeal would be over...BUT no....she is running around hysterically screaming that she is starving (because eating is too hard with a loose tooth)....

On one hand it is really pretty funny...on another...it is really getting on my nerves and the entire family wants her to be quiet....

Any ideas on how to help her remove it? I think a big apple...but she refuses to eat

[uppityperson]

1. They are sharp and they do hurt, sorry no advice

I had to be taken to the dentist a couple times as a child because I didn't let my parents know I had a loose tooth until it got infected around it. The first couple loose teeth got pulled (piece of floss wrapped around it and pulled by my parents) and I was NOT going to let them do that again. So I suffered in silence until my gums were infected.

Good luck. Bubblegum? bribery?

[bleedingheart]

3. I have promised a trip to dairy queen...but I might try gum...

perhaps that might work...

Both top teeth are loose and the gums are just flaming red...and they need to come out because the poor mite is just screaming her head off...

[uppityperson]

5. soft ice cream is a great idea, will numb it and maybe pull it loose.

[Ariana Celeste]

2. Tell her to suck on the tooth

worked for me when I was a kid. Also, once lost a tooth to a soft cookie...

[bleedingheart]

4. I will have her try it...

[Texasgal]

6. Warm foods...

Such as soups or hot tea... the tooth will loosen more!

Good luck, I do not envy you! :)

[bleedingheart]

7. the positive side is that I think acting may be a possible career

not that I don't believe she is upset...but boy she has been putting on quite a performance...

I will make her some hot chocolate now and send dad out for ice cream...

[Gormy Cuss]

8. My father was expert at this.

His method was distraction then a thwack to the offending tooth but I don't recommend that technique for amateurs. :o

My mother's tack was to say it wasn't going to get any better, it would get looser and looser until it finally came out but that could be days from now and if it hurts now it will keep on hurting --- or you can wiggle it tonight until it comes out on its own. If you play the tooth fairy game tell her that if it's out before bedtime tonight's the visit night. If you don't play tooth fairy, maybe you should offer her the traditional money for loosing a tooth.

I like the apple idea.

[Maine Mary]

9. I remember feeling betrayed somehow by my mother

Because to me, it felt like something was very wrong and she just smiled and said that I was "growing up". It didn't really explain why this piece of me was 'hanging' from one thread in my mouth. (You gotta remember, I was only 5 or 6).

Please don't pull it though. I did that once with a different tooth at about age 7 and it hurt like hell. When it's ready, it'll fall out. No apples or quick remedies either. The tooth will come out when it's ready.

In the meantime, while you and your daughter are waiting, it might be a good idea to "play up" the tooth fairy thing and also reassure her that she's a brave girl and while it may feel funny, it's all a part of growing up. :-)

[gardenista]

10. Tell her that a marshmallow will make it feel better

you wrap the marshmallow around the tooth and gently move the tooth around. Let her do it.

It should eventually work its way out.

Also tell her the tooth fairy has a special deal going for today only.

[philosophie_en_rose]

11. Ask her to gently wiggle the tooth with her tongue.

If it really hurts, it might already be infected. As I recall, I could eventually just wiggle my baby teeth with my tongue and they eventually fell out.

I don't remember that much pain. Maybe she is just very hungry. I'd recommend something like hot soup or tea. Nothing sweet that would encourage bacteria growth or plaque on her teeth.

There is also mouthwash with a little peroxide in it that I think Scope sells. It's a great mouthwash and antiseptic. It's not going to help with pain, but it might help with infection if she's not able to brush right now.

[LynzM]

12. Whatever you do, don't take a lesson from my grandfather....

"Here, let me just have a little look at that..." !YOINK!

Boy, did I never trust him again... for about 10 years, give or take.

Good luck with it....

[JVS]

13. Ether