Throughout childhood, discovering a loose tooth is often a reason for celebration, as the tooth fairy will soon follow. However, in adulthood, a loose tooth is never a cause for celebration, it’s a cause for concern. There are a variety of reasons your tooth may come loose as an adult. Regardless of the cause, loose teeth are never a good sign. In fact, a loose tooth is most often a forewarning for a more serious underlying issue.
If you’ve noticed a loose tooth of your own, you’ll need to visit a dentist immediately to find the root of the problem. Robert Rosenfeld DDS in Solana Beach, CA can surely assess your mouth and find the cause. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with some of the causes of loose teeth.
Loose Teeth Causes
After childhood, or once you’ve lost all of your “baby” teeth, your permanent “adult” teeth should never be loose, and if they do you should address the issue right away. Take a look below to see how teeth may become loose.
- Gum Disease: One of the main causes of loose teeth is gum, or periodontal, disease. There is a strong genetic component to gum disease. If someone in your immediate family has been diagnosed with gum disease, you may also be at risk. Loss of bone support for your teeth can result in loose teeth.
- Osteoporosis: A condition causing bones in the body to lose density, osteoporosis is also a risk factor. When bone density decrease, teeth can become loose.
- Traumatic Force: Teeth grinding (bruxism), excessive clenching, or trauma to your face can all cause teeth to loosen. The traumatic or excessive force from any of these factors puts intolerable pressure on teeth, which is referred to as primary occlusal trauma.
Treatment for Loose Teeth
Depending on the cause, loose teeth can be treated in a variety of ways. When periodontal disease is the culprit, the patient will first need professional teeth cleaning, in which each tooth, root, and gums are thoroughly cleaned to remove plaque, tartar and the associated bacteria. After the areas have healed, a re-evaluation of the extent of the gum disease can be done. Further treatment, if needed can then be recommended. If no further treatment is needed, then it will be necessary to maintain a regular cleaning schedule with the dentist and hygienist. Robert Rosenfeld DDS in Solana Beach can help you throughout this treatment.
If bruxism or grinding is the contributing factor, you’ll need to wear a mouth guard to protect the teeth and reduce the force from clenching. In other cases, such as misaligned teeth, an occlusal or bite adjustment is needed. This involves reshaping the top surface of the tooth to lessen the force put on the affected tooth.
Loose Teeth? Don’t Wait!
As you can see, the many causes of loose teeth are actually quite manageable. While some causes are more serious than others, treatment is possible. If you’ve noticed a loose tooth, you should contact Dr. Robert Rosenfeld so he can assess the issue immediately and effectively. If not addressed promptly, loose teeth can result in tooth loss.
Don’t wait to address your loose teeth and give the office of Robert Rosenfeld DDS in Solana Beach a call at 858.755.1189. You can also contact us here. We’re happy to help!