How to Get Rid of a Tooth

Unless a baby tooth is very loose and on the verge of falling out, you should not attempt to help a child remove it. Pulling or yanking on a tooth can cause damage to the gums, nerves and nearby teeth, not to mention excessive bleeding. However, if the baby tooth is very loose, you can help it along by using your own fingers. Wash your hands before you place your fingers in the child's mouth, however; you don't want to introduce any germs or bacteria to his mouth.

Things You'll Need

• Antibacterial soap
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Gauze

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Instructions

• 1

  Wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap and have the child brush his teeth. Advise him to brush very lightly around the loose tooth.

• 2

  Wet a piece of gauze and place it over the child's loose tooth. Gently rock the tooth back and forth a few times to loosen it even more. This may be slightly uncomfortable, but it shouldn't cause intense pain. If the child does feel intense pain, stop immediately and visit a dentist.

• 3

  Pull up on the tooth firmly to remove it if it is a bottom tooth. Pull down on the tooth firmly to remove it if it is a top tooth. If the tooth does not immediately become dislodged, don't try again; it isn't loose enough to be removed. Wait for the tooth to loosen further before you try again or visit a dentist to get it removed.

• 4

  Wet another piece of gauze and place it over the area where the tooth was removed. Have the child hold the gauze in place until the bleeding subsides.