Causes of Loose Teeth
A person’s teeth can loosen for a few different reasons, and, in many cases, a tooth will loosen before it falls out. This doesn’t mean that every loose tooth will lead to a lost tooth, but dental attention should be a priority if you discover that one or more of your teeth is loose, even if the area isn’t painful. Depending on the cause of the loose teeth, prompt dental attention could be the key to maintaining the teeth and fending off future loose teeth. When a loose tooth can’t be saved, after extracting the tooth, dentists can begin treatment that can restore the health, appearance, and integrity of the teeth and the oral cavity.
Of course, children lose their primary, or baby, teeth to make room for their secondary, or permanent, teeth to erupt through bone and gum tissue. These permanent teeth, on the other hand, are, as their name implies, meant to stay securely in the mouth, held in place by healthy bone and connective tissue and protected by the soft tissue of the gums. When these supportive oral tissues, which make up a structure called the periodontium, become infected by bacteria, they deteriorate, causing the teeth to loosen and fall out and contributing to a network of other issues in the oral cavity and beyond. The infection of these tissues is called periodontitis. In its early stages, when the bacteria present in saliva and food debris accumulate on the teeth and cause inflammation of the gums, it is called gingivitis, or gum disease. When intercepted in this earlier stage, gum disease can be reversed and the oral tissues restored to health, which is maintained with proper oral hygiene. When allowed to progress, gingivitis can progress into periodontitis, and the teeth may start to loosen. At this stage, loose teeth may still be able to be saved, and at any stage, periodontitis can be treated; with regular dental attention and solid home hygiene, periodontitis can be prevented.
Osteoporosis can also lead to loose teeth. Osteoporosis develops as people age and their bones lose strength and density. When the bone density in the jaw diminishes, due to osteoporosis, the teeth can loosen. Osteoporosis can often be treated effectively with dietary modification and supplements. Trauma to the mouth could also cause a tooth to loosen. If the impact to the mouth was minimal, a loose tooth could take a day or two to show up. In cases of more serious trauma, which could occur during accidents, falls, and in contact sports, the effects could be more immediately apparent. Dentists may be able to restore a tooth that has loosened because of trauma or impact, and, when they can’t, they can provide treatment to restore the area’s function and appearance.
If impact or trauma affect the bite, which is the relationship between the upper and lower rows of teeth when the jaw is closed, this could lead to a condition called bruxism, which is characterized by the habitual or unconscious clenching or grinding of the teeth. In turn, bruxism can also lead to loose teeth and should be addressed by a dental professional, who may recommend a mouth guard, orthodontic treatment, stress reduction, or other therapies. Significant fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone like those that may be experienced during pregnancy can also cause mobility in the teeth, though this condition usually subsides once the hormones have equalized and rarely leads to tooth loss.