What Can You Do to Save a Loose Tooth?

By the age of 50, the average American will have lost 12 teeth.

Loose teeth are common in children, but it's something that can also happen to adults. There are several reasons this can happen, and if it does, you should seek treatment immediately. Plenty of people are very apprehensive about dentist visits, but they can help you keep your teeth in good health.



In this guide, we'll go over how to save a loose tooth so you can keep your smile. Keep reading for more.

What Can Cause a Loose Tooth in an Adult?

If you think you have a loose tooth, place your finger on the tip of it and see if it will move back and forth. If it moves, or if you feel any pain, it may be loose. Various things can lead to this.

Gum Disease

This is one of the most common causes of loose teeth in adults. It's usually the result of poor oral hygiene. If you aren't cleaning your teeth properly, bacteria can build up around your gum line and on your teeth.

A bacterial infection can harm your gums, and if you don't get treatment, things will only get worse. Later stages of gum disease can result in loose teeth. Early treatment is the best way to prevent this.

Injury

Excessive biting force can injure teeth and make them loose. This problem is more common among people who grind their teeth at night. It's also often an issue for people who have crowded teeth.

More traumatic injuries such as sporting accidents or falls can damage teeth, gums, and bone. This can make teeth become loose, or in very bad cases you may even have knocked out teeth. You should see a dentist immediately if this happens.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy can cause a range of bodily changes, but this is one that many people are unaware of. Up to 75% of pregnant women experience gingivitis. In some cases, this can cause gums to become inflamed.

With early treatment, gingivitis can be managed before it causes further issues. If it's ignored, however, it can cause teeth to become loose.

Osteoporosis



Osteoporosis causes bones to thin, and it becomes more common as people get older. In some cases, it can impact a person's dental health, decreasing the strength of bones in the jaw and resulting in loose teeth. In this situation, you should see a dentist and they'll be able to advise you on what to do.

Prevention

In an ideal world, you won't ever have to suffer from a wobbly tooth. There are certain things you can do that will help prevent your teeth from becoming loose and keep them in good health. This includes:

• Brushing your teeth properly twice per day
• Flossing every day
• Attending dental checkups and getting a regular dental deep cleaning
• Avoiding smoking
• Wearing a bite splint if you grind your teeth at night
• Wearing a suitable mouthguard during sports
• Calcium and vitamin D supplementation to help prevent osteoporosis (discuss with your doctor)
• Be aware of any medications that could impact your dental health
• Keeping diabetes under control, as this condition is a risk factor for gum disease



Taking care of your health is vital, especially as you get older. Ensuring you put the effort in to prevent any teeth from coming loose will mean you won't have to deal with any of the treatment solutions available.

Potential Treatment

If you have a loose tooth, what you should do is see a dentist the first chance you get. They'll be able to recommend the best treatment option for your situation. Some of the solutions they might suggest include:

• Medications or mouth rinses: These are a simple yet effective way to combat bacteria in the mouth and prevent/reverse gum disease
• Scaling and root planing: A type of deep cleaning procedure to prevent and reverse gum disease
• Dental splints for loose teeth: These help to reduce damage from grinding and can promote healing after dental surgery
• Surgery: Surgery can remove inflamed gum tissue as well as bone damaged by gum disease
• Soft tissue grafts: These may prevent further tooth or gum loss in those who suffer from gum disease
• Bone grafts: These can rebuild and repair bone lost due to gum disease.
• Treatment for diabetes: Diabetes can affect gum health, so treatment can help reduce the impact.

The best treatment for you can vary depending on various factors. This is why it's best to see a professional as they can give the best advice on how to fix loose teeth. If you don't get the appropriate treatment, your loose tooth might eventually fall out.



In such a situation, a dentist might suggest a dental implant or dental bridge. A dental implant is an artificial tooth with a root that connects to your jawbone.

A dental bridge is a crown that goes over the teeth on either side of the missing one. This gives you a strong prosthetic/artificial tooth between the two healthy teeth. In either case, you still want to make sure you treat the underlying cause of your initial loose tooth to stop it from happening to any others.

How to Save a Loose Tooth

If you have a loose tooth, it's important to act quickly to have the best chance of saving it. You should contact a professional dentist who can give you advice on how to save a loose tooth.

SoHo Dental Group is a leading dentist in New York, NY. We can help with loose teeth and a range of other dental issues. We're even a Top 1% Provider and a Diamond Provider of Invisalign.



Take a look at our services page to find out more about how we can help you.