Your child should never miss dental appointments. Regular cleaning and additional services can prevent problems as the mouth and jaw develop that affect your youngster's quality of life as they age. Tooth extraction, for instance, might be necessary to avoid future concerns.  Here are a few points parents should know about the procedure. 

What You Should Know About Your Child's Tooth Extraction

1. Extraction Is Necessary for Various Reasons

Children require tooth extraction for different reasons. A baby tooth might need to be removed, for instance, if it doesn't fall out on its own. Cavities are another reason for baby tooth removal. Once your child's permanent teeth grow in, one might need to be removed due to severe decay, misalignment, or an injury.

2. Anesthetic Is Used to Minimize Pain

Tooth extraction isn't as scary as many people might believe. The dentist will first numb the area with a local anesthetic and then gently extract the tooth without causing trauma to the bone or surrounding teeth. 

After the tooth is removed, sterile gauze is placed in the empty socket. The dentist might also stitch the socket to close the wound. If your child is particularly anxious or the tooth is being extracted from the jawbone, the dentist can sedate them during the procedure. 

3. Stock Up on Soft Foods

After tooth extraction, your child should drink water to aid the healing process. To avoid complications, they shouldn't eat chips, pretzels, and other hard, crunchy foods, as they could irritate the extraction site. Instead, give your child puréed yams, butternut squash, or carrots, mashed potatoes, applesauce, soft noodles, or scrambled eggs. The foods should be served at room temperature. After 24 hours, it's okay for your youngster to swish liquids in their mouth and use a drinking straw. They should also gargle with salt water to clean the socket.

For tooth extraction and other family dentistry services, contact Kevin L. Ragsdale, D.D.S., P.C. in Dalton, GA. With over 30 years of experience, the friendly, personable dentist provides teeth cleaning, cavity filling, and additional procedures to protect the oral health of patients in the Whitfield County area. View and download new patient forms online, and call (706) 275-6631 for an appointment.