It’s safe to say that people of all ages, including adults, can experience tooth looseness. While it is common among children, when it occurs in adults, it can be a sign of an underlying dental problem that may require immediate attention from a dentist. Just as we all know, baby teeth are temporary and will eventually fall out to make room for permanent teeth. As an adult, your teeth are all permanent and meant to last for a lifetime.
However, there are certain factors that can result in loose tooth in adults, including advanced gum disease. If your permanent teeth become loose due to bone loss, depending on the nature of the damage, the affected teeth can be repaired, removed, or replaced with dental implants or bridges. Although some causes of loose tooth in adults are harmless, others can be attributed to health problems.
For the purpose of this article, I am going to reveal to you some of the health conditions and oral problems that can cause wiggly teeth. Healthy teeth, including baby teeth, are important for overall dental health. Regular dental cleanings can help prevent tooth loosening.
Causes Of Loose Tooth In Adults
1. Gum disease
Untreated oral case of gingivitis can result to gum disease. Gingivitis being a mild form of periodontalitis, is an early stage of gum disease, it’s usually associated with certain symptoms such as inflamed and bleeding gums. The symptoms of gingivitis are mostly painless. If it’s left untreated and prolonged for some period of time, it can cause more serious gum disease.
Periodontitis is a more severe form of gum disease, it causes severe inflammation, irritation and infection of the gums. According to a report from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research , periodontitis does not only affect your gums. It breaks down the bone and body tissues supporting your teeth, causing the teeth to become loose.
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a common cause of dental health problems. It slowly deteriorates the gum tissues and supporting bones, which can result in loose teeth and tooth loss. To prevent this, it’s important to visit a dentist regularly and consider dental implants if necessary.
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is usually caused by poor oral hygiene. This oral problem, which can lead to a loose adult tooth or wiggly tooth, is more likely to develop if you don’t floss or brush regularly. When you don’t take good care of your teeth, plaque tends to stick to your teeth, mostly around the gum line. They hardens on the teeth and attract lots of harmful bacteria to the mouth, which can harm the permanent tooth.
Bacterial activities on the teeth are the main cause of tooth problems. These activities produce lots of toxins that harm the gum tissue, leading to inflammation and easy bleeding. As a result, the gums pull away from the teeth, creating dental pockets on the tooth roots. Eventually, this process can cause loss of bone and tissue that support the teeth.
Finally, gum disease can lead to different oral health issues such as gums recession, infection, loose tooth, tissue damage and tooth loss. The good news is that there are remedies and treatments available for gum disease.
2. Injury
Injury to the teeth can cause damages to the tooth’s connective tissue. Usually, this is always as a result of extreme forces exerted on the teeth. In some cases, a close impact of a blow to the face or a car accident, can damage your teeth and the tissues supporting the tooth.
Also minor causes of teeth trauma such as teeth grinding(bruxism) often takes a day or two for some of your teeth to loosen out. (1) Constant clenching or grinding of the teeth during stress or while sleeping at night can wear down your teeth enamel. It can also damage the supporting ligaments and bones around your teeth.
However, most patients who grind their teeth subconsciously during their sleep are unaware of the situation. If you experience loose tooth or jaw pain in the morning, then it might be a sign that you are grinding. A visit to your dentist can help you to find out if you grind, there are treatments and remedies to stop teeth grinding.
3. Pregnancy
During pregnancy, the female body undergoes some changes and adjustments that can cause loose teeth. These changes can affect the health of the tooth and the bones and tissues in the mouth.
Pregnant women often experience an increased levels of pregnancy hormones know as estrogen and progesterone in their body. In my previous post on, gingivitis in pregnancy, I tried to explain more on the effects of these hormones on the gum tissue. Moreover, increase in estrogen and progesterone levels can alter the periodontium, causing the supportive ligaments and bone around the teeth to loosen.
According to Colgate.com, this oral situation is usually temporary and does not normally result in tooth loss unless there are other more serious dental issues, such as periodontal disease. However, the changes to the health of oral bones and ligaments will resolve after pregnancy.
Pregnant women are always advised to go for regular dental checkups and cleanings to prevent complications with loose teeth and maintain oral health.
4. Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a serious health problem that affects both men and women. It is a disease that causes the bones throughout the entire body to weaken and become porous. This makes them to be less dense and more susceptible to fracture. According to Medicalnewstoday, osteoporosis commonly affects the spine, hips, and wrists, it can also damage the jaw bones that supports the teeth.
If the jaw bones that are supporting your teeth becomes less dense or fractured, your teeth may loose or fall out. According to a study, it was reported that patients with osteoporosis, are three times more likely to experience tooth loss than people without the disease.
However, treating osteoporosis is necessary, but certain medications like bisphosphonates used to treat osteoporosis can cause serious dental health problems such as loose teeth. If you have osteoporosis, before you take any medication ensure to tell your dentist about the medication and any concerns you may have regarding your tooth health.
Prevention Of Loose Tooth In Adults
Well, honestly loose tooth might not be always prevented. But there are certain things that you can do in order to reduce your chances of having frequent loose tooth. Here are some of the ways to keep your teeth healthy:
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Good oral hygiene is crucial for maintaining the health of your gums and teeth. Regular brushing and flossing can significantly reduce the risk of gum disease by preventing bacteria and plaque buildup in the mouth.
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Stop grinding your teeth: if you are having problems with tooth grinding, you should try as much as possible to stop. You should avoid causing injuries to your teeth by wearing protective mouth guards during sports or while sleeping if you grind your teeth at night.
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Take enough calcium and vitamins: these two nutrients are essential for the health of your bones, teeth, and gums. You can request tooth supplements from your dentist if you’re not getting enough of these nutrients from your foods.
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Regular visits to the dentist are crucial for maintaining oral health and detecting early signs of dental problems such as loose teeth and gum disease. These visits also include additional dental cleaning to ensure optimal tooth care.
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Take the right medications: you should be cautious of the medications that you take. There are certain medications that cause adverse effects to your teeth and gums.
These preventive measures may be helpful to reduce occurrence of loose tooth in adults. Keeping your teeth enamel healthy and strong, can also be of a great help. You can refer to my previous article, to learn more on how to strengthen your teeth enamel.
Richard Smith is a Registered Nutritionist and also a Health Speaker. Richard Smith graduated from The City University of New York. You can learn more about him by Visiting His LinkedIn Page or Follow him on Twitter.
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