Losing a Tooth
Background Information & Activities

Losing teeth and growing new ones are a natural part of growing up. Most kids lose their first tooth at around six years old, but kids begin to lose their teeth at different ages. On average, girls lose their teeth before boys. Your children should not feel anxious if they haven’t lost their first tooth yet or if they are losing their teeth faster or slower than other kids. Explain that people’s bodies grow and change at different speeds.

Teeth are made from one of the hardest substances in the human body and are the first part of the digestive system. Teeth grind and cut up food and the tongue mixes it with saliva to prepare food for digestion. Teeth also help you pronounce words. (Have children try saying the word teeth without moving their tongue against their teeth.) Encourage your children to think about how they use their teeth.

People develop two sets of teeth in their lifetime. The first set is called primary teeth, or baby teeth. There are twenty primary teeth. The second set is called permanent teeth, or adult teeth. There are thirty-two adult teeth, including wisdom teeth. The first primary tooth grows in when children are around six months old, a process referred to as “teething.” As children’s bodies grow, their jawbones grow as well, requiring bigger permanent teeth.

A primary tooth becomes loose when the body starts to absorb some of the root, the part of the tooth that anchors it to the gum line, or when the permanent tooth begins to grow in and push the primary tooth out. Eventually the primary tooth falls out and the permanent tooth grows in its place. Permanent teeth are bigger than primary teeth and have longer roots. It is important for you and your child to leave a loose tooth alone and let it fall out on its own. If a tooth is yanked out too early, the tooth can be severed from the root, which can remain in the jaw. This root can get infected and cause problems. Premature removal of teeth can also cause bleeding gums and pain in the area. In addition, the primary tooth guides the permanent tooth into place, so if the baby tooth is yanked early, the adult tooth may grow in crooked. However, if children are going to give a loose tooth a gentle wiggle, encourage them to wash their hands first.

It is important for your children to take care of their teeth by brushing, flossing, staying away from sweets, and visiting a dentist regularly. Teeth are an important part of our bodies and require care and maintenance.

Losing a Tooth Teacher Activities – Click Here!

Losing a Tooth Family Activities – Click Here!

Losing a Tooth Teacher Activities

Sweet Teeth

Have students volunteer to bring in lost teeth. You may want to coordinate this effort with parents. Once the teeth are in, have the students experiment with what happens to teeth when they are exposed to sugar. Put at least one tooth in a clear plastic cup of soda. Place other teeth in cups of diet soda, apple juice, water, and milk. A tiny bit of spit in each cup will be needed to activate the process. Have students observe the teeth over the next 6 weeks and come up with their own conclusions.

A Tooth Story

Have students tell the story of a tooth from its point of view. They can draw pictures of the mouth to show which tooth was lost and write sentences how the tooth was formed, lost, etc. Encourage them to think about how the tooth might feel in different scenarios, like when it is being wiggled or when too much Halloween candy has been eaten. Make sure that children who have not lost a tooth yet feel included. Encourage them to write a story about their primary teeth.

Toothbrush Kit

Promote good dental hygiene in your class. Discuss when people should brush their teeth, such as in the evening and after every meal, and write their suggestions on the board. Remind students that they should brush their teeth during the day after lunch or after eating a snack. Have students bring in toothbrushes, small tubes of toothpaste, and floss and make toothbrush kits. You may want to supply small boxes or plastic bags so students can create kits and label them with their names. Encourage students to carry the kits and brush their teeth after they eat lunch or a snack.

Losing a Tooth Family Activities

Tooth Timeline

Help your child create a tooth timeline. Make a timeline using long sheets of paper and post them on a wall, bulletin board, or even behind a door. As your child loses a tooth, he or she can mark on the timeline when it occurred and write a short description of what happened. As your child loses more and more teeth, analyze the timeline and look for patterns. During which period of time did your child lose the most teeth? The least?

Smile!

Take photographs of how your child’s smile changes as he or she loses teeth and grows new ones. Together, collect the photographs and label each one with the date and age of your child. Then put the photographs into an album or in a book. You can also just take pictures of your child’s smile and turn the photographs into a flipbook that shows how his or her mouth changes over time.

Mind the Tooth

One of the most difficult parts of having a loose tooth is leaving it alone. Kids tend to wiggle the tooth with dirty fingers or try to yank it out. Together brainstorm ways your child can take his or her mind off the loose tooth. For example, your child may want to wiggle and dance instead of wiggling the tooth. Your child can sing a song or do a different activity like drawing or writing to keep his or her mind off the tooth. Have your child write these ideas down in his or her journal and refer to them when a tooth becomes loose.