Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle … and just like that, your child loses his or her first tooth. While he or she will probably be most excited about the pending visit from the tooth fairy, as a parent you will want to make sure your child knows how to properly take care of the gums and the new permanent tooth that will eventually appear.
Sometimes there is bleeding when the tooth falls out. If so, have your child gargle with warm saltwater. Then as the days go by, continue having the child brush with child-friendly toothpaste and a soft toothbrush being careful not to irritate the gums where the missing tooth was.
This is also is a great time to reinforce the importance of good oral hygiene. Kids may not understand that the next set of teeth is permanent, so take time to talk to them about this and explain why they have to floss and brush regularly and why it is important to limit sugary snacks and drinks.