Do you feel a loose tooth? Don’t panic. Loose teeth can easily be fixed when treated early.

Perhaps you remember when you lost your first baby tooth. The tooth loosened, and you pulled it out to make way for your permanent teeth. It was a normal rite of passage in childhood.

A loose tooth during adulthood is a different matter. It signals a severe dental issue requiring treatment. If you don’t treat the condition, you may lose the tooth. To prevent that, your dentist will examine your teeth, find the root cause, and suggest several therapies.

Four common causes of loose teeth

Early intervention can save your tooth. So, if you notice a wobbly tooth when you brush or chew, talk to your dentist immediately. The cause is often the result of one of these four conditions:

Gum disease. Advanced gum disease, or periodontitis, affects not only your gums but your bones, too. Tartar buildup leads to an infection in your gums that eventually attacks your bones. Over time, the tooth detaches from the gums and bone. Signs of gum disease include tender, bleeding gums and a widening gap between your gum line and tooth. The standard space between a tooth and gums is one to three millimeters. Anything more significant indicates gum disease. But if caught early, gum disease is very treatable.

Pregnancy. During pregnancy, a woman’s body produces more estrogen and progesterone. While these hormones are needed to support the growing fetus, they also weaken the periodontium, a network of bones and ligaments supporting the teeth, causing the tooth to feel loose. Although the condition typically resolves after delivery, you may want to get checked by a dentist to rule out other possibilities, such as gum disease. 

Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis doesn’t only reduce bone mass in the spine or hips. It can also affect the jaw bones. Teeth may become loose when they lack support from the bones. Although rare, certain medications to treat bone loss, such as bisphosphonates, have reportedly led to loose teeth. While medication can stem bone loss, you should discuss possible side effects with your doctors. Calcium and vitamin supplements can help prevent bone loss, as well.

Injury. A blow to the mouth could knock a tooth out of place and make it feel loose. Further, if you grind your teeth at night, you may be causing your teeth to detach from the gums partially. Wearing a face guard during sporting events and a nighttime splint can keep teeth secure.

Treating loose teeth

Treatment options are available if you’re experiencing tooth mobility issues. Depending on the cause, the most common therapies include:

Scaling and Root Planing. To treat advanced gum disease and remove plaque, your dentist can perform a scaling and root planing procedure. Scaling clears the plaque and bacteria, while root planing levels the root’s surface, allowing the gums to reattach to the tooth.

Bone Graft. Your dentist can reverse severe bone loss with a bone graft. Bone grafts involve using bone material from another part of your body or bone grafting material to build up lost bone to secure the tooth’s position.

Splinting. Your dentist can secure the loose tooth by attaching it to adjacent teeth with metal rods. Splinting works best when the tooth hasn’t completely disconnected from the gums.

Bite Adjustment. Tooth grinding can loosen teeth. But a bite adjustment can release pressure on the tooth by removing a small amount of enamel on the tooth and reshaping its surface. With less pressure, the tooth can strengthen its bond with the gums.

If the tooth has completely detached and fallen out, your dentist can fix the gap with either a tooth implant or a bridge. But with early treatment, your loose tooth can be saved and secured once again.

Don’t wait another day to treat your loose tooth

Schedule an appointment at Espire’sOklahoma City location today! Our highly trained dentists can check your teeth and repair any loose tooth. 

Don’t live near our Oklahoma City office? Find one of our other locations near you.

Oklahoma City, OK
12448 St Andrews Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73120