What to Do If Your Permanent Tooth Comes Loose

In childhood, having a wobbly tooth can be an exciting sign of growing up. However, having a loose permanent tooth when you’re older is nothing to celebrate. In fact, it can be an alarming experience that could result in a permanent gap in your smile! Read on as your Landrum emergency dentist explains what can cause your teeth to become loose and what you need to do to keep your pearly whites intact.

What Can Cause Loose Permanent Teeth?

Once our permanent teeth come in, we hope that they stay securely in place for the rest of our lifetime. However, there are a few factors that can cause our adult teeth to lose their grip in our mouth, including:

• Gum disease: The most common cause of tooth loss in the US is gum disease. This bacterial infection in the gums can attack the jawbone and destroy the connective tissues that hold your teeth in place, eventually causing them to fall out.
• Dental trauma or pressure: The connective tissues that hold your teeth in place are strong, but they’re not invincible. Your tooth will feel loose if these tissues become damaged or destroyed. This may happen as the result of a blow to the face, car accident, or nightly teeth grinding.
• Osteoporosis: This disease causes bones to become weakened and porous. While it commonly affects the spine, hips, and wrists, it can also damage the jawbone. If the bones that support your teeth lose density, your teeth may loosen and fall out.

What to Do If Your Permanent Tooth Is Loose

If you notice that your tooth feels loose, the first thing you should do is call your dentist. Unlike other parts of your body, your teeth cannot heal themselves. The longer you wait to see your dentist, the worse your condition will get. It’s important to take special care of your loose tooth until your appointment to keep it from falling out. Don’t touch or play with it and avoid chewing with it. You can wash your mouth out carefully with warm saltwater to keep infection at bay.

Can a Loose Permanent Tooth Be Fixed?

The best way to treat your loose tooth will depend on its cause, but in all cases successful re-setting is more likely the sooner you see your dentist. Depending on the nature of your situation, your Landrum dentist may be able to tether your loose tooth to a securely anchored one to keep it in place. If your tooth was loosened by gum disease, periodontal therapy will be needed to restore healthy gum tissue. However, postponing your dental care can cause the loose tooth to become severely damaged or infected, in which case it may need to be extracted and replaced with a dental implant.

While not all loose teeth can be prevented, you can lower your risk by practicing great oral hygiene. A thorough dental routine and regular checkups can help keep your smile intact for a lifetime.

About the Practice

If you need urgent dental care, don’t hesitate to contact Parkside Dental in Landrum, SC. Our highly experienced dental team goes above and beyond to accommodate same-day appointments for dental emergencies whenever possible. With our state-of-the-art technology, Dr. John Moneyhun can quickly and precisely treat your issue so you can get back to enjoying your pain-free smile right away. Feel free to contact him via his website or at (864) 457-3901.