Ok, my DD (5) has her first loose tooth! We are all very excited, but I have a small concern. As we were looking at it last night, (it is the bottom front tooth on the left) we noticed that from the bottom of the tooth, clear down to the bottom of her gums is bright red. It's just below that one tooth. Is this normal? I'm thinking that it could be from irritation because she is always messing with the tooth. Is that right? Or, is this not normal? TIA

By Eve on Tuesday, August 26, 2003 - 07:29 pm:

Hmmm! I have no idea! Where are still getting teeth in our house. LOL!

I'll bump for you though! BUMP!

By Bobbie on Tuesday, August 26, 2003 - 09:40 pm:

Yes it is normal. As the tooth loosens it irritates the gum line. Eating and moving the tounge wiggle the tooth.. Totally normal.

By Semperspencer on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - 12:35 am:

No experience here. Just wanted to comment on how fun it will be for you to play Tooth Fairy when it finally does come out! Are you planning on starting that tradition?

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - 10:08 am:

I have gone through all the tooth-loosing, but don't remember and never paid attentio to see if their gums were red. I have no clue!

My younger dd would let those teeth just sit there until they fell out on their own. When I was a kid, I was nowhere near that patient and would help my teeth along a little bit! LOL!

By Mommyathome on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - 03:20 pm:

Well, she hasn't lost it yet. We even had corn on the cob last night for dinner in hopes that it would help the process along. But, she creatively found that she could each the corn so that it didn't touch that tooth lol.

It is still red below the tooth. It's hanging on by just a couple of "strings". If she would just give it the slightest tug it would be out, but she won't. So we're still waiting.

And yes, we will be doing the tooth fairy thing! I'm so excited about that lol. I think I'm more into it that my DD is.

By Julia on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 07:06 pm:

My daughter is 7 and has her first loose tooth on the bottom right. However, the new tooth is already coming in crooked right behind it. Do I take her to the dentist and have the baby tooth pulled or wait?

By Bobbie on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 10:20 pm:

Julia. The other tooth has to come out. How loose is it? I would suggest a trip to the dentist. Incourage her to get it out or even pulling it yourself if it is just hanging on. I went to school with a guy and this is no joke. He had two sets of teeth. his baby teeth sat in front of his adult teeth. He said the babies would come loose and adventually tighten back up and the adult would come in right behind. Lets say he was a mess to say the least but curosity got the best of me so I had to ask him. So I suggest a trip to the dentist if all else fails. Or major bucks in dental bills and orthodonture down the line.. It should come some what into place when the other one is removed.

By Julia on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 04:04 pm:

Bobbie, thanks for your input. I think you are right and I will most likely take her to a dentist since she doesn't want to work on the tooth. The tooth is loose but not that loose if you know what I mean. Thanks, Julia