No more tears: a dentist-approved tactic for taking out a loose tooth

By Dr Tom Shumack, BSci (Syd. Uni), BDent (Hons) (Syd. Uni) Grad Dip Clin Dent (Oral Implants) (Syd. Uni) MRACDS(PDS)

Ah, the joys of wobbly teeth. As a kid, there’s nothing more exciting - or terrifying - than feeling your tooth wiggle loose. It’s that strange mix of anticipation and dread - the promise of a coin from the tooth fairy but not before a painful tooth pull. For me, the process of losing a tooth was… formative. I remember vividly when my brother, in all his “wisdom,” tied a piece of string around my loose tooth, attached it to the door, and gave it a solid yank. The tooth came out, sure, but so did a lot of unnecessary tears. 

Now that I’m a dentist, I’m a bit more refined in my approach (as you can imagine) however there is a right way to remove your child’s tooth, without the need for string or doorknobs. I recommend a much gentler, more effective technique: the twist and hold method. Here’s how it works: gently twist the loose tooth in one direction until you feel some resistance - right at the edge of discomfort. Then, hold that position - it’s all about the hold - for about 10 seconds. After that, slowly twist it the other way and hold for another 10 seconds. It’s simple, it’s safe, and it gets the job done without needing a string or a doorframe.

The key here is patience and listening to your body (or your child’s body, if you’re the one doing the wiggling). You don’t want to rush it or force it out - just a little bit of pressure at a time. And here’s a little trick: if you’re feeling nervous about the discomfort, a bit of Lignocaine gel (which is a topical numbing agent) can make the process more comfortable. It’s a lot less traumatic than door-slamming, and I promise, your teeth will thank you for it. Of course, if you’re not feeling confident about removing your child’s tooth, don’t hesitate to contact us, we’re always here to help.