Even though most baby teeth come out on their own, there may come a time when your child must have a tooth extracted by a dentist. Even though extracting a baby tooth is probably one of the least worrisome procedures for you as a parent, pulling any tooth can seem like a major ordeal through the eyes of your child. Between needles used to administer a local anesthetic to perhaps a little blood, getting a tooth pulled can look a lot scarier than it actually is. There is a simple ABC guide to help you make sure your child's tooth extraction goes as smoothly as possible. 

Always explain to your child what is going to happen at the dentist's office in advance. 

If you just show up at the dentist's office and the doctor goes after your child with tools to do an extraction, it can truly freak your little one out and they are bound to be more scared. To prevent them from feeling ambushed and also prevent them from forming a distrust of the dentist, take a few minutes to explain to your little one what is going to happen at the dentist. Don't go into excessive detail but do let them know a little about what to expect throughout the process. 

Bring along a pair of dark sunglasses and possibly earphones. 

Part of what makes getting a tooth pulled scary through the eyes of a child is seeing all of the weird instruments coming at them or hearing what the dentist is saying and doing. Bring along a pair of dark-tinted sunglasses to shield your child's view a bit and even a pair of earphones so they can listen to music on your smartphone while the procedure is underway. Sometimes all it takes is a little shielding to keep a little one calm during a tooth extraction. 

Carefully keep your own reactions in check during the procedure.

Children are notorious for mirroring the reactions of their parents in scary situations. If watching someone get a tooth pulled would make you uneasy or if you get queasy at the site of blood, it may be best for you to stay back in the waiting room while your little one is treated or just step outside of the dentist's exam room. If your youngster sees you visibly upset by seeing the tooth pulled, it is highly likely that their own reaction to the situation will be worse.