Permanent Tooth Feels Loose
As an adult with a loose tooth, there is usually an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. The number one reason an adult may experience a loose tooth is gone disease. There are a number of other reasons that may cause a tooth to become loose but fortunately, there are treatments available to save your teeth!
What can cause permanent teeth to become loose in adults?
Gum Disease
Good oral hygiene is part of the best way to prevent gum disease along with regular visits to your dentist for preventative care. Gum disease presents as gingivitis which, left untreated, progresses into advanced periodontitis. Patients with underlying medical conditions such as osteoporosis or diabetes should take special care to practice good oral hygiene because they may be more susceptible to gum disease.
To keep gum disease out of your life, brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day as well as visiting your dentist at least twice a year for preventative professional cleanings. Patients with diagnosed periodontal disease may require professional cleanings more often than the usual every six months to keep everything under control, possibly three or four per year.
Lifestyle Choices
There are some habits that can affect a patient’s risk of developing gum disease. Patients who smoke regularly are more likely to have bone loss and are at higher risk for tooth loss. Those who smoke should floss at least once a day and to visit their dentist at least twice a year, if not more frequently, for professional cleanings.
Bruxism can also lead to loose teeth in adult patients. Bruxism is the unconscious clenching and grinding that a lot of us do in our sleep. Stress can exacerbate bruxism which causes an abnormal amount of pressure on the teeth leading to excessive wear on your teeth and possibly looseness. Your dentist can fabricate a custom night guard for you to sleep in that will help protect your teeth from the negative effects of bruxism.
Trauma or Accident
No one can avoid every accident and dental trauma can come into play during physical activity or any run of the mill fall! For patients who participate in physical contact sports, a mouthguard or during play can greatly prevent your teeth from being injured in the case of a hit to the face. In the event that a patient experiences a fall or other accident that affects their teeth, they should visit their dentist as soon as possible for a quick exam and x-ray to make sure that the affected tooth or teeth are stable.
Your dentist has the tools and knowledge to try to save a loose tooth which may include attaching a splint to the surface of the loose tooth then bonding it to the neighboring teeth. The splint will support your tooth while the damaged ligaments heal and your tooth stabilizes.
If you discover a mobile tooth, It is vital to see your dentist right away. Left untreated, the tooth may become hopeless at which point it will either fall out on its own or require extraction and replacement with either an implant or dental bridge.