Children’s Emotions Upon the Shedding of the First Primary Tooth From Parents’ Perspective

TL;DR

This study explores children's emotions when losing their first tooth, finding that most feel positive emotions, while others feel negative ones influenced by factors like dental visits and sibling experiences.

Contribution

The study identifies specific factors influencing children's emotional responses to losing their first tooth, including dental visits and sibling experiences.

Findings

Most children experience positive emotions when losing their first tooth.

Children with prior dental visits or sibling tooth loss experience more positive emotions.

Negative emotions are more common in children with negative dental attitudes or from single-language households.

Abstract

The loss of the first primary tooth is a significant early biological milestone in a child’s development. As a novel experience, it often triggers a complex mix of excitement, confusion, and apprehension. Parents should focus on providing support to ensure this transition is viewed as a positive and reassuring event.

To report children’s different emotions upon losing their first primary tooth and possible factors that may influence these emotions.

An online cross‐sectional survey utilized social media and recruited 988 parents of children aged 5‐8 years. Eligibility required that the child had experienced the exfoliation of at least one primary tooth.

Besides parental demographics, the study used a questionnaire to evaluate child‐specific variables: sex, duration of tooth wiggle, and emotional state during exfoliation. History of traumatic dental injuries or caries‐related visits and witnesses of siblings’ tooth exfoliation were also recorded.

Descriptive statistics, chi‐square tests, and logistic regression tests were used.

Of all parents, 54.6% reported positive emotions, and 30.4% reported negative emotions. Significantly higher positive emotions were found in children getting dental check‐up visits (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.07–2.07), and when the child witnessed tooth exfoliation in older siblings (odd ratio (OR) = 1.73, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.29–2.32). Significantly more negative emotions were found in children attending public schools (OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.02–1.95), speaking one language (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.29–2.87), having two or more siblings (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.02–2.98), and having a negative attitude to a dental visit (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.23–2.30).

The majority of children associate the loss of their first primary tooth with positive emotions. Conversely, approximately one‐third experience negative emotions. The emotional response is significantly influenced by child‐related factors and previous dental visits.