There are some things that are just a normal side effect of getting older — like having your hair turn gray or just losing it altogether.
However, having a loose tooth as an adult is not something that should occur naturally.
Today, we’ll talk about dealing with a loose adult tooth and potential solutions to fixing it.
But first, let’s discuss some of the causes of a wiggly adult tooth.
The Most Common Causes for a Loose Adult Tooth
An Injury to the Tooth – Even extremely healthy and strong teeth can be susceptible to either chipping or becoming loose due to an injury to the mouth.
Athletes are particularly vulnerable to these accidents, especially if they are not wearing a preventive mouthguard. But, there are plenty of other ways to find yourself with a loose tooth.
Car accidents are another common cause, where those involved bite down too hard on their teeth during the point of impact.
Over time, you may also develop loose teeth simply from sleeping.
Those who grind their teeth at night may cause damage to their teeth, which can include loosening them.
Gum Disease – Involving inflation and infection of the gums, gum disease affects half of U.S. adults aged 30 and older — according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Gum disease can be caused by not properly removing plaque while brushing and flossing.
As a result, those with gum disease may experience loose teeth because hardened plaque, known as tartar, causes the gums to pull away from the teeth, which creates gaps.
If you have any of the following signs of gum disease, make sure to schedule an appointment to meet with a dentist:
- gums that are tender, red, painful, or swollen
- gums that bleed when the teeth are brushed
- gum recession
- changes in the way the teeth fit together
Osteoporosis – Osteroprosoiss is a disease that causes bones to become weaker. Because of this, even minor contact and impacts can lead to broken bones.
While it is commonly associated with the spine, hips, and wrists, osteoporosis can also negatively affect the bones in your jaw that support the teeth.
Unfortunately, once the jaw bones become less dense and weaker, teeth may loosen.
Preventing Loose Teeth as an Adult
In addition to brushing your teeth twice a day, take these steps to prevent having loose teeth:
- flossing once a day
- not smoking
- attending dental checkups and cleanings as often as recommended
- wearing a mouthguard while playing sports
- wearing a mouthguard at night
- Getting enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet
- Not using medication that may affect the health of your teeth
Treatments For Loose Teeth
If you notice you have a loose tooth, here are some potential solutions:
Bone grafts – a bone graft can help to rebuild the bone lost to gum disease.
Surgery – In some instances, surgery may be required. The surgery will remove any inflamed gum tissue and bone that has been damaged by gum disease.
Dental appliances like splints – These can reduce damage from grinding and may help the mouth to heal after dental surgery.
Soft tissue grafts – Also known as gum grafts, these can prevent further gum or tooth loss in people with gum disease.
Scaling and root planing – This is a type of deep cleaning procedure that can treat and help to reverse gum disease.
Medications or mouth rinses – These can help infected gums to heal and combat bacteria in the mouth.
Schedule an Appointment With Wayzata Dental Today
Here at Wayzata Dental, we offer a wide range of restorative services to help get your smile back on track.
This includes inlays and onlays restorations, which can help strengthen the tooth structure and are more resistant to staining than composite resin material and will last more than 15 years.
We also offer dental implants and dental bridges to get your confident smile back, as well as same-day crowns.
Our same-day crowns are the perfect solution when a filling won’t solve the problem of a broken down tooth.
If you notice you have a loose tooth or any other potential issues with your teeth, then set up an appointment at Wayzata Dental today and we’ll help you find the solution to fit your needs.