How to Pull Your Own Tooth Safely

BY Dr. McDowell  |  November 17th, 2020
Dr. McDowell
Dr. McDowell has always been focused on using the latest technology to improve the patient experience. From radiation-free imaging to laser dentistry, he has always been ahead of the curve and is dedicated to improving the practice of dentistry one ..

If your tooth is in pain or irritating you and you aren’t able to get to the dentist, there are lots of ways that you can deal with the pain of a sore tooth. But, in some cases, you might be wondering how to pull your own tooth!

An example of when you might want to pull a tooth is if your child is losing a tooth and experiencing a lot of irritation. There are a few different ways that you can pull a baby tooth safely.

When pulling adult teeth, it may be more difficult to get the tooth loose, and the process is slightly more extensive. While we do recommend stopping by a local dentist, there are safe ways to pull adult teeth as well.

How to Deal with Tooth Aches

dentist visit with a tooth ache

We talk a lot about the importance of managing your mouth’s pain so that you don’t have to remove teeth on your own. In many cases, you should manage the pain your tooth is causing without needing to pull your own tooth. Tooth extraction can be even more painful than your toothache if you’re performing the operation on your own. It can also cause damage to surrounding teeth if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Here are some effective ways to find emergency toothache relief.

Cold Therapy

Cold therapy is a great way to deal with any type of pain you might be experiencing because of swelling. Using a cold pack on your jaw or near the tooth that’s bothering can help to bring down the swelling.

Cloves

Using cloves for pain relief is an age-old trick that works great for lessening pain. All you have to do is throw the clove in your mouth and press it against the area that’s causing you pain.

Garlic

Another long-time natural way to cure toothaches is garlic. Yes, it can taste somewhat bitter and can give you bad breath, but applying garlic to the affected area can help your toothache heal. Garlic works to kill any bacteria in the affected area.

Saltwater Rinse

Another natural way to clean your mouth is with a warm saltwater rinse. The saltwater, when rinsed throughout your mouth, will kill bacteria and help to relieve the pain in your mouth.

Peppermint Tea

Lastly, using peppermint against the affected area also works great. You can steep tea on the stove for 20 minutes and then swish the tea around in your mouth. You can also use a moist tea bag and press it against the pained area to offer relief.

How to Pull Baby Teeth

As your child grows up, they might start to feel some of their teeth getting loose. Of course, this is completely normal. As adult teeth come in, they’ll slowly push the baby teeth out, and eventually, those baby teeth will fall right out.

Some kids will want to pull those teeth before they fall out on their own because of irritation. While it’s important that you encourage your child to wiggle their teeth on their own and allow the process to work itself out, there are also times when you might want to help them.

You’ll know the tooth is ready when it doesn’t hurt badly upon wiggling it. Additionally, there shouldn’t be very much blood present as you work the tooth loose. To finish pulling the tooth, you can try to get a grip on it by using a paper towel or a dry rag. If it’s very difficult to pull, you’ll want to try to leave it. These teeth shouldn’t be hard to get out.

How To Pull Your Own Tooth (Not Recommended)

dentist showing teeth on a x-ray machine

One such time when you might really feel the need to pull your loose tooth is if you’re experiencing severe gum disease. When gum disease sets in to an extreme degree, you might start to notice dry socket as well as possible bone decay. If this starts to happen, your teeth may begin to come loose and start to fall out. Pulling your teeth in this situation wouldn’t be a challenge as they would be almost falling out from tooth decay.

When removing a tooth on your own, you need to be very careful to ensure that the tooth is ready to be removed. The last thing you want to happen is for the tooth break off towards the top. If this happens, you’re going to need to visit the dentist so that they can cut the rest of the tooth out.

Tooth extraction can be very painful, and we highly recommend that you visit the dentist’s office before deciding to remove pull your own tooth. A dental treatment might be able to help you save your teeth and keep it intact. Losing teeth is never a fun situation and can be very expensive. Dentists will know whether or not your tooth should be removed. They’ll also be able to get you pain medication so that you don’t have to experience the pain associated with removing a tooth.

What Happens When You Pull a Tooth?

If you choose to pull out a tooth on your own, then you’re going to be left with an infection and an open wound. In almost all cases, you’ll only lose adult teeth if there’s an underlying issue with your mouth and your teeth. When that tooth is removed, it might relieve some pain for a while, but the infection and decay often won’t stop at your tooth. It’s going to continue.

To remove the chance of more damage to your mouth, contact your dentist to help you remove the tooth. Many insurance providers offer dental coverage meaning that you won’t have to pay any extreme amounts to have an operation like this done. If you don’t have insurance, you can trust that most dentists are going to be able to offer payment plans for their dental work.

If you’re feeling the need to pull your own tooth, reach out to Wayzata Dental or your local dental provider today! Your mouth deserves to get a good treatment and, in turn, for you to experience a pain-free mouth.

FAQ

How loose should a tooth be to pull it?

A tooth should be fairly loose before pulling it out completely. If the tooth barely wiggles or if you feel sharp, sudden pain then it’s likely still rooted and not ready to be removed. When ready, the tooth should pull out with ease.

Should you force a tooth to come out?

The quick answer is no, you should not force a tooth to come out. Forcing a tooth to come out when it’s not ready can cause severe pain and permanent damage to your nerves and surrounding tissue. When ready, the tooth should become loose and pull out with ease.

Will a rotten tooth eventually fall out?

Even though a rotten tooth will eventually fall out, waiting for this to happen on its own can be extremely dangerous. If a tooth dies or becomes rotten with decay it’s important to visit your dentist ASAP to increase your chances of saving the tooth with a root canal procedure.

Dr. McDowell
Dr. McDowell has always been focused on using the latest technology to improve the patient experience. From radiation-free imaging to laser dentistry, he has always been ahead of the curve and is dedicated to improving the practice of dentistry one ..