Help! Baby tooth won't come out!

[natrfrk]

My 8 yo DD has a baby tooth that will not let go. The new adult tooth is already there. It's pretty big already too. It is under the old baby tooth, not behind it. She has a tendency to clench and grind in her sleep and she is pushing the baby tooth on the new tooth pretty hard. Also, the baby tooth is starting to chip away. I used to be afraid that she would break it out at night with her clencing and grinding, and swallow it. She did swallow one when she was six. But this one is not coming out, but it is breaking off in little slithers. Now, the tooth is completely out of the socket, and the top edges of the tooth that used to be up under the gum are super sharp and keep cutting her gum, and her tongue, because she won't stop sticking her tongue up there. The tooth is so loose that I can push it up out of the way, like a flap, to brush the new tooth. I try to be very careful, as the gum issue in there looks pretty raw. Now, the baby tooth is just hanging, but not by a thread... by a huge thick mass of tissue. It looks like it has grown together with the gum in front of the new tooth. But it might just LOOK like that. Isn't that tissue supposed to die and release the tooth? Or what makes that tissue let go? We are past being able to twist, the new tooth is in the way, plus the baby tooth is too sharp. My DD hates losig teeth, so this is really traumatic to her. She likes that it's holding on. She hopes that it will never come out! But she's chipping it away at night with her bottom tooth! I am afraid that it's going to become dangerous. Not just from getting sharp edges, but I am afraid she will cause damage to the new tooth, and her gum tissues. Is this normal? I don't remember having trouble losing my baby teeth? Am I just over reacting?

[Lori French]

No, I don't think you're overreacting. If she were mine I'd probably take her to the dentist, to get it removed, for fear of damaging the permanent teeth.

[Tina71]

I would take her to see her dentist.

[trcg]

Take her in. My oldest had a terrible time with his teeth. First when he was a baby and then when the darn things were coming out. The dentist was great and relieved so much of his pain for several of his teeth.

Renee

[natrfrk]

Thanks everyone. I kind of figured that's what you'd all say. I had hoped you'd tell me it would work itself out though...

I am going to try one more time to convince her to let me try before making an appointment. I am thinking that maybe it's not so bad as it looks. And that if we could just get a little twisting in, that maybe it would come out. That's how all mine came out when I was a kid... I wiggled and twisted until they came out. I tried to twist a little before she went to bed and I was able to get a full twist in both directions without touching the new tooth. But she claimed that it hurt. It never hurt me when I was a kid. It was uncomfortable at first, but not for long. So I am wondering if hers really hurts or if that is her fear and anxiety speaking. I don't want to hurt her...

Thanks for replying. I will let you know what happens...

[trcg]

My husband has pulled several of the boys teeth because they didn't want to do it..it hurt. My youngest son pulls his own head back and the tooth is out before he knows it. All my husband has done is hold it...yes sometimes with pliers, but he has never actually pulled the tooth-from nerves our sons have pulled their own head back. The thought of it hurting sometimes is so much greater than the pain is.

Now my oldest has had to go to the dentist. The tooth was barely hanging on and he kept saying it was still attached down deep. On Christmas Eve no less he ended up at the dentist and the tooth did still have some root attached deep. The dentist got the tooth out, but the piece was still there he had to dig it out.

Better safe and have it checked out-then next time you'll feel more comfortable with what is going on.

Renee

[natrfrk]

Well, do they just do it? Or do they numb it first? I thought baby teeth didn't have actual roots. I can see all the top edges of this tooth. What I don't know, is what the tissue is that's hanging on. Are there nerves in there? Is it just tissue? The roots are part of the tooth aren't they? Hard and bony? She does insist that it is not ready, that it's "too attached". But she hasn't said it quite like your son. And I just don't know. I agree that it's is better to be safe than sorry. But I still hope it comes out tomorrow before I have to call and make an appointment.

[trcg]

His was not numbed. Nor did he experience any pain-just total relief when the tooth was gone. The dentist will know what is needed. Inflicting pain is not their goal. :)

Renee

[pamelaw]

Another thing to consider is if she is getting enough assimilable calcium. That makes tooth issues as well. Dr. Christopher's Calcium drops work well for us.