What to do when a 5-and-a-half-year-old child's tooth becomes loose

Under normal circumstances, a loose tooth in a 5-and-a-half-year-old child may be caused by natural tooth replacement, biting hard objects, gingivitis, dental caries, or retained primary teeth leading to secondary loosening. It is recommended to seek medical advice promptly, identify the underlying cause, and then improve the condition under a doctor's guidance through general treatment, medication, surgical intervention, etc. Specific analyses are as follows:

1. Normal tooth replacement phase: At age 5.5, children are typically in the stage of replacing primary teeth with permanent ones. As permanent teeth erupt, they push against the roots of primary teeth, causing root resorption and natural loosening of the baby teeth. No special treatment is required. Parents should ensure the child avoids wiggling the loose tooth with their hands, rinses the mouth after meals, and waits for the primary tooth to fall out naturally so that the permanent tooth can emerge properly.

2. Biting hard objects: Frequent chewing on hard items such as toys or nutshells can cause physical trauma to the periodontal tissues of primary teeth, resulting in tooth loosening. Parents should promptly discourage this behavior, provide soft and safe toys and foods, and monitor the loose tooth for recovery if asymptomatic, ensuring it does not experience further force.

3. Gingivitis: Poor oral hygiene leads to food debris accumulation and bacterial growth, which irritates the gums and causes inflammation. If the inflammation spreads to the periodontium, it may result in tooth mobility accompanied by redness and swelling of the gums. Under medical supervision, children can use pediatric-specific mouthwashes such as compound chlorhexidine solution, hydrogen peroxide solution, or iodine glycerin to clean the mouth and reduce inflammation.

4. Dental caries: Bacterial erosion creates cavities in the teeth. When decay progresses deeply into the pulp and periodontal tissues, it damages the supporting structures of the tooth, leading to looseness, often accompanied by tooth pain. A dentist should remove the decayed tissue. If the pulp is not affected, the tooth can be directly filled and restored.

5. Loosening due to retained primary teeth: Permanent teeth have erupted while the corresponding primary teeth have not fallen out, causing the permanent teeth to emerge in an incorrect position and exert pressure on the primary teeth, making them loose. This may affect the alignment of permanent teeth. If primary teeth remain unshed for a prolonged period, extraction (removal of the retained primary tooth) is necessary to create adequate space for proper eruption of permanent teeth and prevent malocclusion.

In daily life, parents should supervise children’s oral hygiene practices, including using fluoride toothpaste formulated for children and soft-bristled toothbrushes, reducing intake of sweets and sticky foods, and scheduling regular dental check-ups every six months to detect and address oral health issues early, thus maintaining good dental health in children.