LOOSE TEETH  ADVICE HOME

Teeth can be slightly loose or very loose to the point they fall out. From the age of 5 and up the baby teeth will become loose and fall out. If your child's tooth is sensitive have your dentist remove the tooth for them. After the baby teeth are gone the adult teeth may become loose. If your tooth is subjected to trauma and it loosens, have it checked immediately. If the tooth is intact it may need to be splinted into place with resin. If the root has been fractured it may need to be removed and the tooth replaced. If the tooth has been knocked out of it's socket, place it between your cheek and teeth or in a cold glass of milk and bring it to the dental office. If you have the tooth replaced quickly you will have a better chance of it not being rejected.

Teeth can become loose over time. This usually happens due to gum disease caused by poor cleaning of the teeth, smoking and various health conditions. With time and poor conditions in the mouth gums get inflamed and the bone which supports the teeth erodes causing the teeth to loosen. Unfortunately you can not reverse bone loss but you can slow it down by having your teeth cleaned at the dentist and taking the time to properly brush and floss your teeth. In extreme cases you may be sent to a gum specialist to attempt to rebuild lost bone, or you may lose some teeth. These can be replaced with an implant, bridge or denture.

People who grind or clench their teeth can cause the teeth to loosen or if a tooth hits another tooth prematurely it can become loose and may have to be ground down to make your bite more even.

What ever the cause of a loose tooth is, see your dentist.