What to do if you have loose adult teeth

For children, a loose tooth is so exciting! What’s not to love about loose teeth when they hail the coming of the tooth fairy? This excitement ebbs considerably, however, when you’re slightly older and begin to experience loose adult teeth. In fact, we don’t hesitate to guess that it’s not very exciting at all, and its actually fairly nerve-wracking. With no tooth sheltering behind this adult counterpart ready to take its place, a loose tooth could spell serious consequences for your smile. Let’s explore together the causes of loose adult teeth and how to treat them. Of course, we offer tooth replacement like dental implants, but we’d far prefer to save your natural teeth than replace them before it’s too late!

How long does it take a tooth to fall out in adults?

This is a commonly asked question, however as dentists, we don’t recommend simply waiting for an adult tooth to fall out. Adult teeth are meant to last us for life, it’s a big ask but with the help of your dentist we will be able to prolong the health and condition of your teeth, as well as how long you keep them! If you have a wobbly adult tooth it’s important to book an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. We may be able to save the tooth or restore your smile with a natural-looking, but artificial alternative if needed. If you’re in the Stourbridge area, get in touch with our team to book an appointment as soon as possible.

What causes loose adult teeth?

An injury or impact to your teeth is one of the most obvious ways to knock a tooth loose, so let’s start there. Whether through a sports accident, sudden biting down on impact, or complete accident, a tooth injury can seriously endanger your smile. Even the involuntary clenching and grinding during sleep or stress eventually wears away at the tooth and its structural support, loosening them in the gums. Many people are unaware of these movements, so you may not realise the cause of your wobbly tooth until you visit the dentist. Either way, it’s important to visit a professional after injury or wear and tear because there could be some salvation for this loose tooth.

Gum disease is one of the most common ways to develop loose teeth, and most adults suffer from this malady in some extreme or another. The inflammation and infection of the gums is caused by the build-up of bacteria and plaque, which eat away at the supportive tissue. When plaque hardens it becomes the formidable tartar that is only removed professionally, and this causes our gums to recede. This not only withdraws structural support from the teeth, but it also opens up more gaps for infection.

Pregnancy also has the potential to create loose adult teeth because of fluctuating hormone levels, most notably oestrogen and progesterone. These changes tend to resolve after pregnancy and they are entirely natural, but at the time they’re definitely a contributing factor to loosened teeth. Dental check-ups when you are pregnant are safe and actually very strongly encouraged, so you should definitely visit your dentist to maintain your dental hygiene and health during this period.

Treating loose adult teeth

Treating loose adult teeth begins with a simple visit to your dental hygienist. If you’ve never visited your hygienist before, this is definitely something you should consider. Dental hygienists, such as the skilled team we have at Lion Dental Centre in Stourbridge, help you maintain healthy gums and perform professional cleaning of plaque and tartar build-up. These are the components of gum disease that lead to diminished gum health, shaking the foundations of our teeth. Professionally removing these nasties from your teeth will help promote your overall oral hygiene as well as combat the development of gum disease and loose adult teeth.

This is the part you were expecting, but as dentists we wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t remind you to maintain at-home dental care and hygiene. Brushing your teeth a twice a day, flossing once a day, and using anti-septic mouthwash will help tackle the build-up of plaque and keep your teeth and gums in good health. Food build-up in the gaps of your teeth and on your gums attracts bacteria to feast on the sugars, which then release toxins that harm your enamel and tissue. This leads to, you guessed it, tooth loss. We champion preventative dentistry, so we wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t indulge how simple it is to maintain healthy and stable teeth from the comfort of your own bathroom sink.

Contact Us Today

At our Stourbridge dental practice, your dental and oral health are our main priorities. Prevent loose adult teeth and all other manners of dental health calamities by booking your appointment today. Call 01384 376336 or book online.