Dentists Journal

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2/7/2026

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How to Pull a Loose Tooth That Won’t Come Out

A loose tooth can be very annoying and discomforting. Your oral hygiene, gum disease, teeth grinding, hard food, mouth injury, anything can result in a loose tooth. You can let your tooth come out on its own. But the issues that come with that, like problems in eating food, constant sensitivity, etc can be hard to bear. And you just can’t keep waiting for your tooth to fall on its own for a long time. So, how to get a tooth out in a fast and painless way?

How to pull an adult tooth out without pain?

There are a few ways through which you can pull out a loose tooth without hurting yourself. However, if you are experiencing any kind of inflammation or pain, it is advisable that you visit a dentist.

1. Wiggle your tooth

Continuously wiggling your tooth back and forth using your tongue or clean hands will loosen it up. And it will come out eventually, on its own. However, don’t wiggle it too hard or it will hurt. And if you feel any kind of discomfort while wiggling it, see your dentist immediately. 

2. Chew on hard food

Chewing on hard foods like apples, carrots, pears, etc will considerably loosen the already loose tooth. Usually, this process is quick and painless. Start with something a little softer and gradually move to something crunchier. You can also bite into an ice pop and pull out the tooth gently while your gum is still numb from the ice. 

3. Brushing and flossing

Regular brushing and flossing will also help you pull an adult tooth out without pain. Don’t brush or floss too hard or it can get painful. When you are flossing, gently guide it between your loose tooth and the one next to it. Curve the floss around the bottom of your loose tooth. Also, run your floss up and down each side of your loose tooth. Doing it every day will loosen up the tooth even more and help it come out painlessly.

4. Wet wash cloth or gauze

Use a cold and wet washcloth or gauze to hold and remove the loose tooth gently. If your tooth is not loose enough to come out painlessly, keep wiggling it while holding it with a wet cloth or gauze. When you think the tooth is loose enough, give a gentle tug. The tooth will come out easily and the gauze will help in stopping the bleeding if any.

5. Sucking on ice chips

Sucking on ice chips will help the gums around the loose tooth to get numb. It will prevent you from feeling the pain when you gently pull it out. After you have pulled out your tooth painlessly, keep sucking on ice chips for ten minutes thrice or four times a day to numb the pain. Don’t keep sucking on ice continuously or it will damage your gum tissue.

6. Teething gel

You can use aesthetical gel with benzocaine to numb the tooth socket. This could be very useful if wiggling the tooth is causing pain. Read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before using the gel. Apply it to your gums, wait for the gel to numb your gums, and then pull out the tooth gently. 

7. Use tweezers

You can use tweezers to wiggle the tooth free. If you are not able to pull out the loose tooth without hurting, don’t apply force. You can repeat the process after wait for a few days. When you feel the tooth is loose enough to come out easily, give it a gentle tug. 

These are a few ways to get a tooth out in fast and painless ways. But the process doesn’t stop here. Aftercare of your gum is very important. 

 

Aftercare tips after pulling out a tooth

Pulling out a tooth can be quite painful and finding a little blood on the spot is common. Here are a few care tips after pulling out the loose tooth.

1. Use sterile gauze

Apply a little pressure on the tooth socket using sterile gauze to stop the bleeding. The bleeding should stop in a few minutes. You can also press it gently using the upper tooth.

2. Wet teabag

Wet teabag can also come in handy for soothing the gum after pulling the tooth out. Steep the teabag in hot water for a few minutes, squeeze out the excess water, let the teabag cool down for a few minutes and apply it to the tooth socket to dull the pain. You can use chamomile, black, green, or peppermint teabags to soothe the pain. 

3. Over-the-counter pain relief medicine

It is not easy to pull out the loose tooth without hurting. If you are still experiencing pain, you can take pain killers like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc. Make sure you read the manufacturer’s instructions before taking the medicine. Or, even better, ask your doctor if you are not sure about taking them. 

4. Wait for 24 hours before rinsing

After pulling the tooth, there will be a blood clot in the tooth socket. This clot will help the area to heal properly hence it is vital to let it remain in place for 24 hours at least. So, wait for that time before rinsing your mouth. Use a straw to drink water and avoid anything that can result in suction or vigorous rinsing. 

Additional tips

Don’t brush or floss the socket of the tooth you have just pulled out, or the area around it. 

Rinse gently but don’t swish vigorously.

Don’t consume anything too cold or too hot. For two days, eat soft food and consume everything at room temperature.

Use toothpaste with fluoride and mouthwash two times a day.

Avoid smoking and consuming tobacco.

If you are still feeling pain or sensitivity even after two-three days of pulling the tooth out, visit your dentist. 

 

Try not to pull out your loose tooth until it is absolutely necessary. In case of any discomfort, pain, swelling in gums, and inflammation, visit your dentist immediately.

(02/01/2026)
by Healthgree

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Why Does My Jaw Hurt on Only One Side?

While sleeping, you’re jolted awake by a sudden pain on only one side of your jaw. Although the situation can be alarming and confusing, don’t worry – it typically isn’t a cause of immediate concern. However, that doesn’t stop the questions from running through your head. What does it mean? When should you see a dentist? How can you alleviate the discomfort? Luckily, we’ve got all the answers you’re searching for and more – just keep reading!

What Causes Jaw Pain?

There are several reasons why you may experience jaw pain on one side, including:

TMJ Disorders

A temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder affects the joint that connects your skull and jaw. A disc separates the bones in this joint and helps it move properly. If it becomes misaligned or the joint is damaged, you might experience pain and other symptoms like tenderness, earaches, clicking or popping when opening your mouth, difficulty opening and closing your mouth.

Oral Health Problems

In some cases, jaw pain on one side can indicate underlying oral health problems. Some common issues that cause jaw pain are cavities, an abscessed tooth, gum disease, tooth decay, growth of wisdom teeth, missing or crooked teeth, and clenching or grinding your teeth.

Sinusitis

Inflammation in your nasal cavities can cause sinusitis. Since the nasal cavities are located behind the cheeks, inflammation can cause pain in one or both sides of your jaw. Usually, this pain is accompanied by other symptoms like nasal congestion, yellow or green mucus, facial swelling, fatigue, and difficulty smelling or tasting.

When to See a Dentist

As mentioned earlier, jaw pain on one side isn’t usually considered a dire situation. But if the discomfort is accompanied by other symptoms, it could indicate a more severe condition – one that will require immediate treatment.

If you experience any of the following, contact your emergency dentist right away:

A persistent or recurring pain that doesn’t go away within a few days

Difficulty eating, drinking, swallowing, or breathing

Swelling or a fever that doesn’t go away

Significant pain that vanishes after a burst of salty liquid that tastes and smells unpleasant

How to Alleviate Jaw Pain

Do you have mild pain in your jaw? You may not need medical treatment! Here are a few ways you can get relief:

Apply a hot or cold compress. Heat can help your muscles relax, giving you relief from aches and stiffness. Alternatively, a cold compress can numb the pain and reduce swelling.

Take over-the-counter pain relief. Medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) can temporarily relieve your pain.

Rest your jaw as much as possible. Stick to a diet of soft foods that don’t require a lot of chewing. It’ll help you avoid overworking your jaw muscles!

Massage your jaw. It can help release pain and tension in your jaw. Try some techniques on your own or visit a specialist for help (i.e., healthcare provider, physical therapist, massage therapist).

If you’re experiencing jaw pain on one side, use the tips outlined above for some relief. Although it should typically resolve on its own within a few days, you can always seek treatment from your dentist for peace of mind!

(01/31/2026)
by Zumbro Family Dental

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Views: 1,656
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Got Food Stuck in Your Teeth?

Few things feel more satisfying than finishing a good meal. But this positive feeling can sour if you are left with bits of food stuck between your teeth. It may feel hard to resist trying to free the trapped food with your tongue, and this can distract you from other activities on your agenda.

But trapped food between your teeth is more than just annoying. Lingering food particles in your mouth can also pose a threat to your dental health. So you should not ignore this oral phenomenon if you want to protect your smile. Read on to learn more about what food stuck in your smile means for your oral health.

Does Trapped Food Hurt My Oral Health?

Most people associate food stuck in the teeth with a pesky foreign presence within the mouth. But if food stays trapped between the teeth, your mouth might start to feel sore as well. Trapped food can apply pressure on the tooth which can lead to this chronic ache.

You should not try to tolerate or ignore this sensation. The pressure may indicate that the teeth are starting to shift out of their straight alignment. To preserve the look and feel of your smile, you should address this issue promptly.

Lingering food in your smile will also start to decay after a while. This encourages natural oral bacteria to produce plaque. And as food particles and plaque form, they will start to eat away at your dental structure.

Then you will have a high risk of forming cavities and many other dental dangers. Prevent dental emergencies by getting rid of trapped food between teeth as soon as you can.

How Do I Safely Remove Food from Between Teeth?

You can take action to remove food from your teeth on your own, though you should stick to recommended methods of doing so. You may feel tempted to dig the food out with fingernails, but this is not a polite act to do in public. Also, it is unsanitary to put germy fingers in your mouth and then transfer oral bacteria to your hands.

Instead, dentists suggest using dental floss or a toothbrush to free the food stuck between the teeth. Your oral hygiene regimen is designed to scrub away residues from your smile in a safe and effective way. Floss in particular targets the space between the teeth so that you can eradicate these harmful particles without hurting the rest of your smile.

Can I Prevent Food Trapped in My Smile?

A small seed or bit of pork might stick in anyone’s smile every now and then. But if you often have trouble with food in the spaces between your teeth, you might have what dentists call a food trap.

These refer to changes in the spacing between teeth, whether due to issues with the gums or alignment concerns in the teeth, where food will easily get stuck. You should talk to your dentist if you notice this problem so that they can offer treatment to stop this from happening going forward.

(02/01/2026)
by Reedy Creek Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

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Views: 1,505
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