Loose teeth can be a sign of many different things. In baby teeth, this is a natural process, but baby teeth can also be knocked out due to injury, damage, or poor oral health. When adult teeth are loose, this is a significant problem because you will not grow any new teeth to take their place and will need to undergo treatment to have the tooth reattached or replaced.
In this blog from Vivid Smiles, we’re discussing causes and treatments for loose teeth in children and adults. Read on to find out what you should do if you have a loose tooth.
If you suffered from an injury to the mouth and your tooth is now loose, the cause is more obvious. However, dental trauma can occur when you’re unconscious as well, such as when you are sleeping.
Teeth grinding causes an incredible amount of pressure onto the teeth and jaw and can result in significant damage to your teeth such as chipping, cracking, breaking, or loosening the teeth. When you have a loose permanent tooth that occurs without warning, this is a sign of poor oral health and is likely a result of poor oral hygiene. Late-stage gum disease can cause loose teeth and tooth loss when left untreated.
It is normal for your child’s baby teeth to naturally fall out to make way for their permanent teeth. However, sometimes your child’s baby teeth can fall out prematurely due to dental trauma while playing sports or if they had a mouth injury. How you deal with a loose baby tooth depends on the reason it is loose.
If the loose tooth is natural and not a result of injury, it is best to leave it to its own devices so it can fall out on its own. Some children are tempted to accelerate this process by wiggling the tooth to loosen it further or outright prying it out. However, this should be discouraged so your child doesn’t experience more pain and bleeding than is necessary.
When a tooth is loose or falls out due to injury, tooth decay, or gum disease, you need to take them to the dentist right away to make sure their tooth isn’t infected. Teeth that fall out prematurely will need to be replaced with space maintainers or some other orthodontic appliance that holds the space for their permanent teeth to grow into and prevents teeth shifting.
Mouthguard - You will want to prevent further damage to your teeth when you have a loose tooth, so it’s suggested that you wear a mouthguard if you suffer from tooth grinding or if you play contact sports.
As soon as you notice a loose permanent tooth, contact your dentist for a dental emergency. They will advise you on what precautions you need to take, potential treatments, and how urgent the situation is.
Tooth Splints - Tooth splinting is when a splint is used to stabilize the tooth by bonding it to the surrounding teeth.
Deep Cleaning for Gum Disease - If you have early-stage gum disease then root planing can be an effective deep cleaning treatment that eliminates the buildup of plaque and tartar. This will stop the progression of gum disease in its tracks so your gums can gain back strength to hold onto the teeth in their sockets. Antibiotics may be given to treat the infection.
Gum Surgery - If you have late-stage gum disease, gum grafting or flap surgery may be used to treat receding gums caused by gum disease. A piece of soft tissue is taken from inside the mouth and used to replace the receding gums.
Bone Grafting - If your tooth is loose because the bone has become deteriorated, a bone graft can be taken from somewhere else in the body and used to prevent deteriorating bone in the mouth.
If you notice a loose permanent tooth or prematurely loose baby tooth, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact us at Vivid Smiles. It’s important to assess the root cause of the loose tooth and prevent tooth loss which can cause many different oral health problems such as bone loss and shifting teeth. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Roshini Durga Paruchuri or Dr. Nilanchal Sahai today and we can discuss your restorative dental options.
2512 Wabash Avenue
Terre Haute, IN 47803
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