The Effects of Pulling Baby Teeth

If your child has a loose tooth, you may feel tempted to help him yank it out. It is not necessary to assist in pulling out a loose baby tooth since the roots dissolve naturally and the tooth will fall out on its own. If pulled out too soon, complications can occur that require a trip to the dentist. Instead of reaching in and pulling the tooth out, you can encourage the child to wiggle the tooth with his tongue, suggests the Babycenter website.

Bleeding

If you pull a loose baby tooth out of a child’s mouth, especially before it is ready to come out, bleeding is likely to occur. Babycenter suggests that you help control the bleeding with the use of a piece of gauze moistened with cool water. Place the gauze over the top of the bleeding and apply light pressure for several minutes. If the bleeding continues, contact a dentist right away.

Pain

Since you are ripping the tooth away from the gums to remove it, the child will experience pain. According to "Parents" magazine, the area is likely to be sensitive since new teeth may be coming in and the baby teeth cutting into the gums. The gums are likely to be swollen and the child may have some discomfort. When the tooth is yanked out of the mouth, the child is likely to feel some pain and soreness for several minutes. If the pain does not stop, she may have developed an infection.

Infection

The most serious effect of pulling out a loose baby tooth is that it increases the child’s risk of infection. At the site of the infection, swelling and pain can occur. A dentist needs to be contacted if an infection is suspected. Treatment of the infection may require the use of antibiotics and pain relievers.