Loose teeth: symptoms, causes, how to treat them

The definition of a loose tooth

Loose teeth are a condition when the teeth move easily or move when you feel them with your tongue or fingers. Teeth may wobble because the roots slowly break away from the gums and the bone that supports the jaw.

Chewing hard food and brushing your teeth too hard can cause your teeth to move more easily.

Loose teeth can interfere with your daily activities. If allowed to continue, the teeth can eventually fall out or come off on their own.

How common is tooth loss?

Loose teeth are common and common in children. Loose children's teeth indicate that their baby teeth are ready to be replaced by permanent teeth.

However, loose teeth are not common in adults. Teeth that move easily can be a sign of a more serious problem.

This condition can be overcome by reducing the existing risk factors. Please consult a doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms of loose teeth

Symptoms of a loose tooth in each person may be different, depending on the underlying cause. But in general, here are the signs to watch out for.

• The teeth feel moving when brushing or flossing
• The gums are swollen and reddish in color
• Gums bleed easily
• Problematic teeth hurt when exposed to the slightest stimulation
• Gums appear to be drooping / shrinking (gum recession)
• The visible roots of the teeth

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, don't hesitate to consult or ask the dentist directly.

When should I see a dentist?

You should see a dentist if you experience any of the following symptoms.

• High fever.
• Tooth pain and soreness for more than 2 days.
• Toothache that is intense and unbearable even after taking pain medication.
• Difficulty opening your mouth wide to make you lazy to eat and just talk.

Immediately see a dentist if you experience any of the signs or symptoms listed above, or have any questions. Everyone's body reacts differently. The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the lower the risk of complications.

Remember, you know best how your body works. So, don't hesitate to check your condition to the doctor.

Causes of loose teeth

In adults, teeth that move easily are usually caused because of a history of oral and dental problems. Here are some conditions that can cause loose teeth.

1. Gum disease

In many cases, teeth that move easily are caused because a person has a history of gum disease (periodontitis). Gum disease is a serious dental infection. This condition is caused due to poor oral and dental hygiene.

When you rarely brush or flossing teeth, food debris that sticks to the surface of the teeth will turn into plaque. Plaque itself is a slippery, sticky layer filled with food debris and millions of bacteria.

Plaque that continues to accumulate over time can harden and form tartar. Generally, plaque takes about 12 days to mature and harden until it becomes tartar. However, the rate at which corals form in each person may differ, depending on the pH level of the saliva.

Usually, tartar forms below and above the gum line. The darker the color of the tartar, the more plaque that has accumulated. Teeth that are filled with tartar will be more susceptible to infection. If not treated promptly, the infection can erode the bone and tissue around the teeth. This condition makes your teeth loose and easier to fall out or come off.

It doesn't stop there. Chronic inflammation that is allowed to persist can also weaken the immune system. As a result, it is more difficult for your body to fight off disease-causing infections.

2. Injury to the teeth

Loose teeth can also be caused by a hard impact hitting the mouth or face area. These harsh impacts can be due to accidents, falls, sports injuries, or even improper dental techniques.

Apart from causing the teeth to move easily, injuries around the mouth can also have the potential to cause tooth fractures and damage to the bones and tissues that support the teeth.

Therefore, if you experience an injury around the mouth, don't hesitate to immediately see a dentist. From the outside your teeth may look fine. However, the bone and tissue that supports the teeth may experience problems that need immediate treatment.

So, don't underestimate the impact that hits the area around your mouth or face, huh!

3. The habit of grinding teeth

In medical terms, the habit of grinding, grinding, or grinding your teeth is called bruxism (bruxomania).

Without realizing it, strong pressure on the teeth can cause the teeth to crack and even loosen. This condition can also cause sensitive teeth, severe jaw pain, chin abnormalities, headaches, tooth decay, and other problems.

3. Hormonal changes

Little is known, hormonal changes during pregnancy can also cause your teeth to loose. Why? In fact, the hormones progesterone and estrogen that increase during pregnancy cause the bones and soft tissue around the teeth to loosen.

You don't have to worry. Your teeth will return to normal after passing pregnancy. Even so, don't ignore any symptoms that appear on your teeth and mouth during pregnancy. Especially if you already have a history of previous oral and dental problems. This is important so that you can detect other possible problems with your teeth and mouth.

4. Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become brittle, porous, and prone to damage. Although it is more common in the spine and waist, this condition can also affect the bones that support the teeth.

Quoting on the official website of the National Institute of Health (NIH), women with osteoporosis are 3 times more likely to experience loose teeth than healthy women. This is because osteoporosis can also attack the bone tissue in the jaw that supports teeth.

Well, this fragile jawbone will not be able to support the teeth as before. As a result, your teeth will loosen or even fall out.

In addition, a number of drugs used to treat osteoporosis can also cause dental health problems. One of them is the bisphosphonate drug. Bisphosphonate drugs work by preventing bone breakdown and increasing bone density or thickness.

Unfortunately, for some people, this drug can cause tooth loss. This condition is known as osteonecrosis of the jaw. One study showed that osteonecrosis can develop in people who take bisphosphonate drugs intravenously (intravenously).

Risk factors for loose teeth

There are many factors that put you at an increased risk for loose teeth. Some of them include:

• Poor oral and dental hygiene.
• Smoking or chewing tobacco.
• Hard impact hitting the area around the mouth.
• Lack of fluoride.
• Hormonal changes experienced by women during pregnancy.
• Foods and drinks that are too sweet or sour.
• Certain drugs.
• Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, HIV / AIDS, or cancer.

In addition, the age factor is also a factor that causes teeth to become wobbly. This is because with age, teeth can wear out and gums begin to recede. As a result, it is easier for your teeth to become loose.

Loose tooth diagnosis

Loose teeth can be diagnosed with a physical exam. The doctor can see how loose your tooth is by moving the affected tooth with a special lever.

During the examination, the doctor will usually ask about your oral health history and the pain you have experienced. For example, when did the pain begin, how intense the pain was, and where is the exact location. The doctor may also ask about your habits in maintaining dental hygiene.

X-rays of the teeth are often needed. Dental x-rays are useful to give a clearer view of your jaw, teeth and gums. Usually, X-rays will be taken immediately after the doctor has finished the physical examination. The X-ray procedure itself is fairly short, which only takes about 10-15 minutes.

However, for optimal X-rays, you can fast from eating and drinking (except water) for a while. If necessary, it's a good idea to brush your teeth thoroughly first. Clean teeth will make it easier to take photos.

You are also advised to remove all metal accessories from the chest to the head. For example, necklaces, earrings, glasses, and so on. Tell your doctor if you have an amalgam filling or wear dentures. This is because metals can block X rays from penetrating into the body.

After the x-rays come out, the doctor will then invite you to discuss. Your doctor can recommend a number of treatments that are appropriate for your condition. If needed, the doctor may also be able to carry out further tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Loose tooth treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How to treat loose teeth?

As previously mentioned, loose teeth can be caused by many things. Therefore, how to handle it really depends on the cause. Some people may only need simple dental care because the cause is relatively minor.

Meanwhile, for some other people, they may need to undergo surgical removal of their teeth to prevent complications. This is why you need to know the cause first before determining the right treatment method.

In general, here are some medical procedures you can do to treat loose teeth.

1. Scaling tooth

Food debris and plaque in the gaps between the teeth and gums can harden to form tartar. This tartar can then loosen the gaps, making it easier for your teeth to become wobbly.

The hard texture makes the coral not disappear if it is only cleaned by regularly brushing your teeth. You need care scaling which only a dentist can do. With scaling, Even very hard tartar can be lost.

Clean tartar with scaling generally done at least every six months. After finishing cleaning the tartar that sticks to the teeth, the doctor will usually continue with the method root planing.

This procedure is useful for smoothing the surface of the tooth roots and helping the gums adhere to loose teeth. That way, your teeth will return to the gums firmly.

2. Take antibiotics

The use of antibiotics is needed to prevent the spread of infection to other parts of the body. As mentioned earlier, gum disease, aka periodontitis, is a dental infection that most often causes loose teeth.

If this infection is left without proper treatment, the bacteria that cause gum disease can spread through the bloodstream. If you have this, you will be at high risk of experiencing a number of health problems. Covers such as heart disease, stroke, to infections throughout the body.

This is why doctors often prescribe antibiotics for patients with gum disease. Take antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor. Do not reduce or exceed the dose without your doctor's approval. The use of antibiotics that is not according to the rules can lead to antibiotic resistance. This condition makes the disease you are experiencing more difficult to treat.

So, be careful when using antibiotics.

3. Flap operation

In some cases, surgery is often the best option for treating a loose tooth. The doctor will recommend that you undergo flap surgery if the gum tissue has already been damaged due to the large amount of tartar that has accumulated on the inside of the gums.

Flap surgery is performed by lifting the gum through an incision in the gum so that the inside of the gum is visible. This way, the tartar on the inside will be visible and easy to clean. After the tartar is finished cleaning, the gums are returned to their original places and the incisions are sutured together.

4. Splinting

If the loose tooth is still firmly attached to the gum, the doctor will usually perform the procedure splinting. This procedure is performed by attaching metal pieces to the adjacent teeth with the loose tooth.

The installation of this metal piece aims to help support the teeth so that they are firmly in place again on the gums.

5. Bone grafting

If you have damaged tooth tissue to the point of causing bone tissue to become porous, undergo the procedure bone grafting could be a solution. This procedure involves a small incision in the gum where the problem tooth is located. Furthermore, this procedure is continued with scaling and root planing to clean dental tissue.

Then, the part of the bone tissue that is porous is patched with graft tissue. This tissue can come from your own bones or from synthetic material.

6. Remove the tooth

In cases where the tooth is loose too badly, the doctor will usually pull it out right away. You don't need to worry when the doctor recommends tooth extraction. With careful planning, you can go through this procedure in peace.

In order not to affect the normal appearance and function of the teeth, you can undergo a dental implant procedure. Dental implants are titanium screws that are implanted into the jaw of a tooth as a substitute for the root of a tooth that has fallen out. This screw serves as a replacement tooth to replace the root of the tooth. Simply put, dental implants are implanted teeth.

Dental implants can be used to replace one or more loose teeth. The teeth to be implanted have the same shape and function as natural teeth. That way, this procedure will provide natural results and is more stable when used.