Loose tooth
For children who still have their baby teeth, loose teeth are not such a concern. However, adults experiencing loose teeth need to act quickly to prevent further damage or loss of the tooth.
Adult teeth don’t regrow, so preventing their loss is essential to keeping a happy, healthy mouth.
What causes loose teeth?
Loose teeth in adulthood can be caused by a number of factors. Often it is a symptom of gum disease, aka periodontal disease, where soft plaque in the mouth hardens into tartar and causes damage to your gums, jaw bone and potentially the connective tissue holding your teeth in place.
Trauma to the teeth is another common factor, such as receiving an injury to the mouth or face. Sudden impacts can cause teeth to become loose so that they appear to wobble, or indeed can knock them out entirely.
Adults who grind their teeth (known as bruxism) may also experience loose teeth, in addition to other symptoms such as jaw pain, headaches, stiff or locked jaw, and worn tooth enamel.
Finally, loose teeth could also be a side effect of both pregnancy and osteoporosis. The hormonal changes a woman experiences during pregnancy can increase her risk of gingivitis (early-stage gum disease) which if left untreated may advance to periodontitis. For osteoporosis, if bone loss occurs in the jaw due to this condition it could lead to increased tooth mobility.
Loose teeth in children is usually nothing to worry about, as baby teeth (milk teeth) typically get wobbly and loose before falling out, to be replaced by adult teeth. However, should their adult teeth become loose, this is when it becomes a problem that may require a trip to the dentist.
Symptoms of loose teeth
Wobbly teeth, potentially in addition to:
Bleeding gums
Swollen or inflamed gums
Gum recession.
How are loose teeth treated?
Prevention is of course the best way to treat loose teeth, and in addition there are a few at-home treatment options to help as well. In the most severe cases, dental treatment may be a solution, including surgery. This might include:
A thorough clean to help treat gingivitis
Bone or soft tissue grafts, to reattach the tooth to the jaw
Splinting, which can bond a loose tooth to its neighbours for support
Bite adjustment, which can help with teeth grinding and allow a loose tooth to heal
Removing the tooth and replacing it with a dental bridge or implant.
If you’re worried about wobbly teeth and feel you may need surgery, read ‘When to see a dentist’ below.
Treating loose teeth at home
Severe cases of loose teeth are difficult to treat at home without help, but there is a lot you can do to let your teeth and gums heal if there’s a problem, and to prevent any existing problems from getting worse.
Mouthguards, which can protect your teeth during sport. They can also be worn at night to prevent damage from bruxism.
Good oral hygiene, such as brushing twice a day and flossing regularly. These activities help control and prevent gum disease.
Consuming calcium, which can contribute to bone health and strength. However watch out for any added sugars in calcium products.
Antiseptic treatments, including antibacterial mouthwash and also other remedies – saltwater gurgles, baking soda, lemongrass and tea tree oil. Again, this is to control bacteria and treat gum disease.
When to see a dentist
As a general rule, we recommend most adults try to visit the dentist at least once a year for a check up and clean. That way we can keep an eye on your teeth, talk to you about any problems you’ve been experiencing, and tackle any issues as they crop up.
When it comes to loose teeth, if you feel one or more of your teeth have become noticeably looser, and especially if you’re experiencing additional symptoms such as inflammation, pain and bleeding, we recommend that you come and visit us immediately so we can take a look.
What to expect
Kowhai Dental is located on Maunu Road, Whangarei, and when you pop in one of the first things we’ll need to know is what you’ve been experiencing – and when it began. We’ll ask about any symptoms you’ve felt, activities you’ve taken part in recently (in the case of loose teeth caused by injury) and also your medical history – so we can get a good idea of what might be causing your loose teeth.
In any cases that seem related to gum disease, we will likely recommend a teeth cleaning and scaling, where our friendly dental hygienist will scrape away plaque and tartar from your mouth and give your teeth a polish. We can also recommend at-home cleaning techniques if you have any questions.
If we believe surgery may be required, we will take the time to walk you through your options and ensure that you understand what they would entail. Of course if you have any questions we’ll be here to answer all of them.
Cost of treatment
The cost of treating loose teeth depends on the severity of the problem.
A gum health evaluation starts at $52
Cleaning, scaling and polishing starts at $124
Extractions, implants and other surgeries may cost considerably more depending on your situation. If you’re worried about affording your treatment, make sure to read about our flexible payment options, or pop in to chat with us about what might be available to you.
Related treatments
Got questions
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— Maintain good all-round oral hygiene (brushing, flossing, mouthwash), to keep gum disease under control. Learn more about cleaning your gums.
— Avoid smoking, as smoking increases your risk of getting gum disease.
— Wear a fitted mouthguard during sport play or at night if you grind your teeth.
— Make healthy diet choices, such as avoiding sugar and alcohol and eating nutrient-rich foods. A nutritionist can help you decide what you personally need to eat if you require specific advice.
— Talk to your dentist about your risk factors (i.e. pregnancy, osteoporosis) to get personalised advice based on your situation.
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Loose teeth do sometimes tighten back up but it depends on what caused them to become loose in the first place. For example, the body can often heal itself from minor trauma if there is little nerve, tissue or bone damage in the mouth.
To allow a loose tooth to heal, you will generally need to avoid chewing on that side of the mouth to keep pressure off the area. We may also recommend splinting the tooth (anchoring to its neighbour) to support it while it heals.
If loose teeth are caused by an ongoing issue such as gum disease or bone loss, they may not heal by themselves as other treatments would in these instances be required.
In either case, it is typically recommended to visit your dentist for a checkup if you are worried about wobbly teeth so that we can provide the right advice for you.
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Preventing the problem from getting worse is one of the best ways to keep a loose tooth from falling out completely. That means understanding why the loosening has occurred and treating the cause – for example, tartar causing gum disease.
While a tooth is healing, keeping pressure off that area of the mouth or splinting the tooth to its neighbour may also keep it from becoming further damaged.
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Generally speaking, no. Adult teeth are not meant to come out, so pulling them ignores the underlying cause of the issue and could lead to more expensive surgeries such as implants and bridges.
If you’re worried about or annoyed by a loose tooth, it’s almost always better to visit your dentist for a checkup to receive a personalised treatment plan that addresses the issue and tries to save the tooth.