“How can I make the process of losing teeth easier for my son?”
My son is 6 years old, and is terrified of the thought of losing his teeth. Is there anything I can do to make this easier/less scary for him?
13 Answers
Loosing the first tooth is an experience. After that it is no big deal. Your child's first set of teeth are called "primary teeth". Thr primary teeth remain in the mouth for a few years. As your child grows, the size of the teeth are going to have to get larger. The primary teeth can't grow. When it's time for the permanent teeth to erupt into the mouth, the permanent teeth start to secrete an enzyme. This enzyme starts to dissolve the root of the primary tooth that will be replaced. It is gradual, no pain. By the time the tooth is ready to fall out, the primary tooth is in soft tissue and what's left is the crown. If you look at some primary teeth, you see almost no root. You child will start touching the tooth. Pushing and moving it. Eventually the tooth will fall out. When I was teaching 2nd grade, . the rule was: "No dentistry will be done today." By the age of seven, friends volunteer to help get a tooth out. It is a matter of fact thing. You son may be anxious and telling him the tooth will come out when it is ready. He will help out, automatically.
Tooth loss is a natural biological function of almost all vertebrate species on this earth, and should be explained as such. Teach your son this fact and explain that he has been given a great opportunity to replace any baby teeth that may be decayed or missing. Children are not born with fear, it is a learned behavior, often emanating from family members. Someone has terrified this child needlessly, plain and simple. The opposite of fear is faith, and your child must be taught to have faith, and not fear.
Encourage him that its natural to loose a tooth, there are videos on YouTube and books that talk about it.
Give him carrots to eat.
Hmm, you might try changing his psychological perspective by making it sound like tooth loss is a good thing. Perhaps emphasize that it is a sign of him growing up, or that his permanent stronger teeth will come in to replace the delicate baby teeth.
Try reading age appropriate dental books you may find at the library.
All kids lose teeth and you should not make a big deal about it. This is why the tooth fairy was invented. Promise him a good payout and I'm sure he will be waiting for the next tooth to fall out.
Hi there!
You can explain to him that he will have better and stronger teeth that are pushing the baby teeth out! Books help too! You can also get him excited about the “tooth fairy” and the idea of getting a gift under his pillow :)
You can explain to him that he will have better and stronger teeth that are pushing the baby teeth out! Books help too! You can also get him excited about the “tooth fairy” and the idea of getting a gift under his pillow :)
This should be an exciting milestone in a young life! Your son's response is becoming more prevalent with the generation. Maybe a trip to the library to read some books about tooth loss would help with perspective for your son. "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood" series has a great one dealing with going to the dentist and tooth loss. Share your own tooth loss memories highlighting the positive aspects (tooth fairy's visit and the prize she may have left you). Remind him that it's a process that everyone in the family has experienced, nothing bad has happened to anyone because of it, and it's part of growing up. Bonus point is that there is an adult tooth growing in to replace it!!! How cool is that!!
Let him know that this is a normal process that everyone has gone through when they were children. You might also want to mention that the tooth fairy may visit him after he loses his teeth!
There are a couple things. Explaining that it is normal, that all of his friends will do it and trying to get him excited about the tooth fairy can help. If you have a pet such as a puppy you can explain and show him with the puppy loses baby teeth. Finally, you can research his favorite cartoon character. Chances are there is a book or a TV show of that character's first visit to the dentist or losing his first tooth. In summary the idea is to normalize the idea of losing teeth.
Perhaps the easiest way is 2 time the loss of his baby teeth into the reason which is to accommodate is growth not only in the size of his body as he gets taller but also in the size of his head as it accommodates larger teeth coming in up to adolescence when the head is fully matured. If necessary you can also protract this into the older patient who slows down and begins to be more sedentary, move slower has arthritis and poor vision. The point being that life is a process with many different organs and systems accommodating all the changes necessary to sustain life. Make your explanation perfectly rational and understandable in terms that he or she understands would be my best shot at resolving your dilemma and his concerns, all perfectly normal like having to get a haircut before church.
Start with education, explaining how it is a natural process and needed in order for permanent teeth develop. Don't obsess with removing the teeth early. They will loosen and come out when they are ready. I waited until my granddaughters teeth were very very loose, had her hold the tooth with gauze, then had her gently bump her elbow. Make it fun and, of course, reward the child.
