How to Preserve a Child's Extracted Tooth

Losing baby teeth is a significant and sentimental milestone of childhood. Children usually lose their first baby tooth at the age of 6 or 7. Baby teeth fall out to make room for permanent teeth, and by age 12 or 13 most children have lost all of their baby teeth. It is not uncommon for a child to retain one or two baby teeth, and in these cases a dentist must extract any remaining teeth. The prospect of having a tooth extracted can be scary for a child. Suggesting to your child that he save the tooth can make the experience less frightening and even exciting. Your child gets to show off the tooth to friends and can keep the tooth as a memento. Preserving a tooth is possible in a few simple steps.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper towels
  • Soap
  • Water
  • Toothbrush
  • Rubbing alcohol

Instructions

    • 1

      Inform your child's dentist of your wishes to keep the extracted tooth.

    • 2

      Place the tooth in a paper towel for the trip home from the dentist's office.

    • 3

      Mix water and soap together in a bowl. Scrub the tooth gently with a toothbrush, then dry the tooth with a paper towel.

    • 4

      Set the tooth aside, and prepare a small bowl of rubbing alcohol.

    • 5

      Scrub the tooth with the rubbing alcohol. This step ensues deep cleaning.

    • 6

      Dry the tooth off, and place in a storage container.

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