Permanent Tooth Feels Loose
After we move on from our baby teeth, it is expected that our permanent teeth will function for the rest of our lives. Our teeth are challenged every day with the amount of work and abuse to which they are subjected. By caring for them properly they can indeed withstand the test of time.
Even when you exercise your proper oral hygiene at home and compliment your efforts with consistent dental check-ups, you can still experience a permanent tooth becoming loose. If you believe you have a permanent tooth that might be loose, it could be an indication of a more some serious dental issue that needs to be addressed. If you neglect this symptom, it could lead to you losing that tooth.
Why Does Your Permanent Tooth Feel Loose?
There are a variety of reasons for a loose permanent tooth, and the correct treatment will depend on the cause in your specific situation. If you experienced a fall, or an accident or an injury, the tooth might have become dislodged from its natural socket, which just requires a simple procedure to splint it back into place. The tooth will heal and return to its normal function.
A loose tooth could be a sign of a bigger problem, like advanced gum disease. This infection attacks and destroys the soft tissue and ligaments which support the tooth. This can be corrected simply with a professional cleaning removing plaque, the source of the infection. A tooth can feel loose because of added pressures from you clenching or grinding your teeth. A mouth guard at night will quickly correct this problem.
How Long Will It Take for a Loose Tooth to Heal?
Avoiding your dentist will only make your problem worse. You should schedule your dental appointment right away so your dentist can identify the cause of your loose tooth. The healing time for the loose tooth will vary depending on the cause and the treatment.
One treatment plan for a loose tooth is with a splint. Your dentist will cement a small metal splint to the backside of the loose tooth and then attach it to the stable tooth next to it. This splint will help the periodontal ligaments recover, strength, and tighten up the loose tooth. This will take a few weeks.
Another common treatment is to introduce a night guard. This mouth guard is quite beneficial if you grind or clench your teeth and can be worn while sleeping. Grinding your teeth at night put extras strain on your teeth and gums. Adding a mouth guard at night will deliver a noticeable difference quite soon.
If your loose tooth is from gum disease, there is a common treatment for that. This is actually a more serious health condition that requires immediate treatment. Your dentist will provide a professional teeth cleaning to remove the source of the damaging infection which is the buildup of plaque on your teeth. When the source is removed the gums will heal naturally and quickly.
You Can Prevent a Loose Permanent Tooth
A simple but essential step in preventing loose permanent teeth is by exercising proper daily dental hygiene at home, which is brushing twice a day and flossing daily. To compliment your efforts, consistent exams, and cleanings ever six months will prevent gum disease and loose teeth. If you participate in sports, consider wearing a mouthguard to protect your teeth.