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In a message dated 9/1/2000 10:26:19 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
hape2day@... writes:

> BTW DS had all of his teeth by
> 1yo. He started drooling profusely at 2.5-3mo and cut his first tooth
> at 4-5mo and cut them till he had the same number as he did months
> then cut 1-2 a month till he was 12mo. This sounds like it was a very
> difficult time, as is usually the case, however, the only symptom he
> had was the drooling and a cold/runny nose the weekend prior to the
> teeth cutting in. Corallyn

Both of my children had a similar schedule...except that they cut their first
teeth at 3 months. Imagine my surprise.

DS #2 lost his first baby tooth when he 'bit' 2 legos apart. I didn't even
know he had a loose tooth and rushed him to the dentist, complete with
putting the tooth in milk to preserve it so it could be re-implanted! The
dentist was very kind about it when he assured me the tooth was simply loose
and had fallen out just like it was supposed to. LOL

He also explained that when the milk teeth are getting ready to come out, the
new tooth absorbs the root of the baby tooth, so there really is nothing for
the tooth to hang on to when it's time for the new tooth to come in. That's
why they get wiggly. So, if you want to verify whether it is decay or simple
growth, look at the tooth. If there is a distinct ring around it at the gum
line and there is still root, decay would be an issue. If (as I suspect)
there is pretty much no root, but only a jagged bottom with a normal looking
tooth on top, the tooth was simply ready to come out.

Another clue would be which tooth came out. If it is a front tooth, top or
bottom, I'd place my bets on natural growth. These teeth do not have decay
as readily as the back teeth and they are the first to grow in/fall out in
the normal teething pattern.

The real give away will be if a matching tooth gets loose or comes out
soon...I'll bet it does. Besides, even if it is decay...good brushing habits
now will protect the adult teeth and it hasn't hurt him any at all to have
this one lost at age 5.

FWIW,
Eiraul