First Loose Tooth

Kenz has a loose tooth on the bottom. About a week ago she noticed that it was moving, ever so slightly. My tooth is wiggly. You can wiggle it Nana, if you want to.

Unfortunately, I'm not the only one whose been invited to stick my finger in her mouth. She has been very gracious to share the experience with anyone whose interested. Hopefully, most decline, preferring to watch the the tiny Central Incisor dance in Kenzie's fingers.

Yesterday, the tooth was making progress. It could lean forward with a jolt of her tongue. Although we had a busy day with friends and family visiting, Kenz was preoccupied. Between each bite of her spaghetti, I watched from the corner of my eye as she checked her baby tooth, alternating between her fingers and tongue. Later, when we were alone in the car on the way back to her house I remembered something about having your first loose tooth.

It's like watching a scary movie. You don't want to watch the next part, but you don't want to miss it either. Earlier in the day our eleven year old guest had described part of the horror.

My tooth was hanging by the skin and I could twist it around and around on the skin. It hurt.

Kenz has also heard about the pliers, a word used in the same sentence with pull. Her grandfather (Daba) and her dad have both volunteered to do the removal when the time comes.

And that's just it. It's an upcoming event, one that isn't on the calendar, but one that is coming nonetheless. How much longer till it falls out Nana? she asked me when we were getting out of the car in the dark.

"I don't know sweet girl, but you don't have to think about it. It might even come out all by itself."

That's what I'm gonna do Nana, I'm not thinking about it, but I can't wait to show my friends at school tommorrow. I am the first one to have a loose tooth.

There it was again, bravery mixed with fear. Milestone anxiety.

Don't let anyone tell you it's not a big deal to have your first loose tooth.

From the Pediatric Textbook:

The first permanent (secondary) teeth erupt at about 6 years of age, beginning with the 6-year molar, which erupts posterior to the deciduous molars. The others appear in approximately the same order as eruption of the the primary teeth and follow shedding of the deciduous teeth. With the appearance of the second permanent (12-year) molar, most of the permanent teeth are present.