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Posted by on Aug 30, 2016 in TellMeWhy |

Why Does Your Tooth Become Loose Before It Falls Out?

Why Does Your Tooth Become Loose Before It Falls Out?

Why Does Your Tooth Become Loose Before It Falls Out? Your baby teeth become loose before they fall out because the roots that anchor them begin to dissolve. Everyone grows two sets of teeth. Your first set of teeth, or baby teeth, are always small because they must fit into small jaws. As your jaws grow bigger, your baby teeth become too small for your mouth.

As a natural part of growth, the roots of your baby teeth start to dissolve. As the root disappears, the tooth loosens. When the root is gone, the tooth falls out. By that time, a larger and stronger adult tooth is ready to take its place.

Having a loose tooth as an adult can be unnerving. When one of your permanent teeth is loose, you worry that you might lose that tooth, need an expensive repair, or have an serious health problem. Permanent teeth can become loose for a variety of reasons, including injury, grinding, biting on things that are too hard, or gum disease. Not all loose permanent teeth require a visit to your dentist; however, there are a few instances in which you will need to seek help.

Slightly Loose Tooth: If the injured tooth is just slightly loose, it will usually tighten up on its own. There may be a small amount of bleeding from the gums while it heals. Avoid chewing or biting with that tooth, and stick to soft foods for a few days. Don’t wiggle it or try to move it around, except initially to reposition it if the tooth is slightly crooked.  If the tooth hasn’t tightened into place on its own in a few days, see your dentist to be sure the injury wasn’t more serious than you originally thought it was.

Grinding: If you grind your teeth and one or more of them is now loose, you will want to talk to your dentist as soon as possible. Grinding problems can be easily treated to protect your teeth and prevent additional injury. Your dentist will probably prescribe a mouthguard for you to wear, especially while you sleep, to keep your teeth from grinding against each other.

Gum Disease: One of the most common causes of an unexplained loose permanent tooth is underlying gum disease. Gum disease begins as gingivitis, an infection that causes red, tender gums that bleed during brushing. If left untreated, gingivitis will eventually advance to periodontitis. Periodontitis results from a build-up of plaque on the teeth above and below the gum line. If it is not removed, plaque hardens into tartar, which irritates and destroys gum tissue. The gums bleed and begin to recede from the teeth, forming pockets that hold bacteria and worsen the infection.

If you don’t grind your teeth, and have not had an injury that would cause a tooth to become loose, you should see your dentist immediately to get an assessment on your gum health, especially if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

Gums that bleed during and after tooth brushing

Red, swollen, or tender gums

Persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth

Receding gums

Formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums

Loose or shifting teeth

Changes in the way teeth fit together upon biting down, or in the fit of partial dentures

Very Loose or Knocked Out Tooth: If your tooth is very loose, almost falling out, chipped, fractured, or knocked-out, you have a dental emergency and should try to see your dentist within the next couple of hours. To save the tooth, it must be put back in its socket as soon as possible (2 hours is the usual limit for tooth survival).

Content for this question contributed by Peter Ackerman, resident of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, USA