Once they come in, your adult teeth are meant to last for the rest of your life. While this can be a lot to ask of your teeth, they can usually get by with proper care and regular visits to a dentist in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Unfortunately, there are times when a permanent tooth may feel loose despite your best efforts. Thankfully, knowing what to do if a permanent tooth is loose will go a long way in helping you save it.
How Permanent Teeth Get Loose
Learning how your permanent teeth are held in place will help you understand why they can sometimes feel loose. Contrary to what many think, your teeth aren’t fused to your jawbone.
What holds your teeth in place is a network of fibers called the periodontal ligament. These fibers connect each tooth’s root to the surrounding bone and allow a tiny amount of movement when you bite or chew.
Since your permanent teeth aren’t directly fused to the bones around them, there’s a lot that can destabilize them, including:
- Periodontal disease
- Falls
- Dental trauma
- Tooth grinding
- Osteoporosis
- Stress
- Pregnancy
Therefore, it’s important to recognize the difference between normal give and excessive tooth movement.
What To Do About Your Loose Permanent Tooth
The thought of losing a permanent tooth can be quite concerning. Thankfully, there is a way to save it if you do the right things. Here’s what to do if a permanent tooth is loose.
Do Not Wiggle the Tooth
Ever had a scab you couldn’t help but pick? Remember all the people who told you how bad it was to do that? The same goes for touching or wiggling a loose tooth with your tongue.
Avoid Hard and Sticky Foods
As you wait to see if the tooth will stabilize, you should avoid foods that need a lot of chewing as well as those that could stick to the loose tooth. Such foods could make things worse or cause you additional pain. Instead, you should stick to liquids and soft foods as much as possible.
Keep the Area Clean
Should you continue brushing even when you have a loose tooth? Absolutely. Maintaining good oral hygiene is especially critical during this time.
However, it is very important to be gentle when brushing around the loose tooth. Also, instead of using mouthwash, you should rinse your mouth with warm saltwater. Doing so will help reduce inflammation and prevent gum irritation.
Seek Emergency Dental Care
As helpful as these tips are, the most important thing you can do when you have a loose tooth is get professional help. The dentist will determine the cause and recommend the best course of action.
How Dentists Treat Loose Teeth
The first thing any dentist will do is try to save the tooth by using treatment options that stabilize it.
Tooth Splinting
If the supporting bone underneath the loose tooth is healthy, the dentist could attach a splint to the tooth’s surface and then connect it to the surrounding teeth. This splint will help the ligaments of your loose tooth recover and strengthen.
Deep Cleaning
In the event of gum disease, the dentist could perform deep-cleaning procedures to remove plaque buildup and promote gum healing.
Night Guards
Since teeth grinding places a lot of strain on loose teeth, the dentist could give you a mouth guard to use at night.
Your Trusted Source of Emergency Dental Care
Unsure what to do if a permanent tooth is loose? Mark L. Civin, D.D.S., is here to offer the emergency dental care you need. Whether we’re saving or extracting a loose tooth, you can trust us to provide high-quality services every time.
Call us today at (561) 624-2224 to schedule an appointment. You can also look at our helpful resources to learn everything you need to know about proper oral care, including how often to replace a toothbrush.
