While a loose tooth is common in children, it can also cause concern among adults. Anything from poor oral hygiene, advanced gum disease, grinding on teeth, chewing on hard food, or an injury to the mouth can damage your tooth and loosen it. While it is always preferable to save a tooth, pulling out a cracked, infected, or diseased tooth will help protect your other teeth. Visit your dentist if your loose tooth causes severe pain and needs to be pulled out immediately.
Here are a few tips to help you pull out your loose tooth painlessly.
1. Keep Wiggling
Wiggle the tooth back and forth with your clean hands or tongue, as it will help loosen it and fall out on its own.
2. Brush and Floss Vigorously
Strenuous brushing and flossing will help remove a loose tooth without pain. Brushing in an up-and-down motion that rubs each side of the loose tooth will make it fall out. Curving the floss around the bottom of the loose tooth will also cause it to fall out.
3. Wet Wash Cloth/Gauze
Make use of a cold, wet washcloth or medical gauze to grip and remove a loose tooth. If you think the tooth is not loose enough to come out painlessly, slightly wiggle it while holding it with a gauze or wet cloth. This will help the loose tooth come out quickly and stop the bleeding if any.
4. Twist and Pull Gently
If you find that your tooth is still hanging despite all the wiggling, give it a gentle but firm twist, and then pull it out. Make sure you use clean fingers or gauze for twisting and pulling the tooth.
5. Visit Your Dentist
If your loose tooth is not coming out easily and causing problems such as severe pain or discomfort, visit your dentist to get it removed.
Pulling a loose tooth before it is ready to come out on its own can break the root, leaving the gap prone to infection and plaque buildup. However, if your tooth is loose enough to pull out, follow these tips above.
If you are experiencing swelling, pain, or excessive bleeding because of a loose tooth or difficulty pulling it out on your own, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Related Article:
Dental Hygiene: What Can You Expect at Your Appointments
What Should I Do If My Permanent Tooth Is Loose?
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FAQs
Make use of a cold, wet washcloth or medical gauze to grip and remove a loose tooth. If you think the tooth is not loose enough to come out painlessly, slightly wiggle it while holding it with a gauze or wet cloth. This will help the loose tooth come out quickly and stop the bleeding if any.
What is the most painless way to pull out a loose tooth? ›
Various Approaches to Pull Out Naturally
- The Wobbly Wiggle. Use their clean fingers or tongue to gently move the loose tooth back and forth. ...
- Crunchy Foods. ...
- Warm Saltwater Rinse. ...
- Ice-Cold Water. ...
- Dental Floss. ...
- Soft Toothbrush. ...
- A Gentle Tug from Food. ...
- Seek Professional Advice.
Wiggling the Tooth:
Using a piece of clean gauze wrapped around the tooth, gently wiggle the tooth back and forth to disconnect it from the socket. Take care not to use excessive force to remove the tooth. The gauze helps to get a good grip on the tooth. A tooth that doesn't feel very loose should not be removed.
How do you yank a loose tooth? ›
If your little one wants you to pull their tooth for them, there is a way to do so safely. Start by thoroughly washing your hands. Hold the tooth with a clean tissue and rock it back and forth to ensure it's ready to fall out. If it is, then all you should need to do is twist it slightly, and it should pop right out.
Does pulling out a really loose tooth hurt? ›
There is no tooth behind the permanent tooth that is loose. If you pull a loose adult tooth on your own, you run the risk of enduring significant pain. Furthermore, you will have a gap in your mouth that must be addressed by a dentist.
What happens if you dont pull out a loose tooth? ›
In fact, most loose teeth will eventually fall out naturally, without having to be forced. We believe the best thing to do is let Mother Nature take its course.
How long does it take for a loose tooth to fall out? ›
While there is no fixed timeframe for a luxated tooth to completely fall out, it typically takes several weeks to a few months for an adult's loose tooth to come out on its own.
How to pull out an adult tooth at home? ›
While it may be appropriate to gently remove a baby tooth that's already loose, you should never do the same for an adult tooth. Unlike baby teeth, adult teeth aren't supposed to get loose and fall out. A loose adult tooth may be a sign of an oral condition that requires treatment.
Can salt water tighten loose teeth? ›
Your dentist may suggest you rinse with salt water regularly to clear the bacteria from your mouth. This will hopefully let the bone and tissue mend, resulting in your tooth tightening back up after a few weeks. It is still recommended to discuss this with your dentist in case you need more urgent treatment.
Can a loose tooth tighten back up? ›
If a tooth is loose because of gum disease, it might tighten back up with consistent and proper dental hygiene. A deep cleaning with a hygienist called Scaling & Root Planing is typically the best treatment option. If a tooth is loose because of an injury, it likely won't tighten back up.
While there is no fixed timeline for how long it takes for a loose tooth to tighten back up, improvement in tooth stability and comfort is often observed within a few weeks to months following appropriate treatment.
Can a very loose tooth tighten back up? ›
Can a loose tooth be saved? Yes, but it depends on the reason the tooth is loose. If a tooth is loose because of gum disease, it might tighten back up with consistent and proper dental hygiene. A deep cleaning with a hygienist called Scaling & Root Planing is typically the best treatment option.
How to get a tooth out fast and painless child at home? ›
And always, always make sure any hands or materials used are clean and safe. So, to begin, wash those hands, yours and your child's. Then, start by grabbing a clean piece of gauze from your first aid kid and wet it with cool water. Once you have secured the tooth in your fingers, grip, turn a little, and pull quickly.
