It is usual for teeth to get loose and fall out — in children, and that too, only once. But if your adult tooth is wobbly, it is definitely questionable. Baby teeth are meant to fall out, to be replaced by permanent teeth. But what to do if a permanent tooth is loose? This blog will discuss why your tooth might be loose but still attached.
Why is Your Tooth Loose but Still Attached?
If you have a tooth that is loose but still attached to some part of the gum, it can be because of injury or trauma to the tooth, gum disease, teeth grinding, pregnancy, and menopause. Let’s take a detailed look at the potential causes of a partially latched tooth:
1. Injury
Your tooth might be loose yet attached to the gum due to an injury or trauma. Your tooth might get chipped, broken, cracked, fall off, or become loosely attached.
2. Teeth Grinding
Bruxism, a fancy name for teeth grinding, occurs when an individual grinds their teeth unconsciously. The constant grinding puts pressure on your teeth, loosening their grip on the jawbone.
3. Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes are constant in a woman’s life, especially during pregnancy and menopause. During gestation, estrogen and progesterone levels are high, lowering the jawbone’s strength. Comparatively, estrogen levels are low during menopause, affecting the teeth’s density. In both cases, you might have a tooth that is loose but still attached to your gums.
4. Gum Recession
When your gums start pulling back, it can make your teeth wobbly. Your tooth might become loose, hanging from the gum but still attached.
Treatment Options
If you have a loose tooth that is still partially attached to your jawbone, treatment options are available. They include:
- In case of injury, your dentist might go for tooth extraction to replace the tooth with dental implants.
- Want to know how to fix loose teeth from gum disease? A professional deep cleaning session might be the cure. Scaling or root planing, flap surgery, or bone grafts might do if the condition is severe.
- Mouth guards are recommended if your tooth is slightly loose but still attached due to grinding. There is no treatment for bruxism yet, but mouth guards can bear the pressure from grinding.
- Mostly, pregnancy changes are reversible. But hormone replacement therapies are available to reduce the symptoms during menopause.
- A soft tissue graft might work in case of receding gums.
What’s the Takeaway?
If your adult tooth is loose but still attached, it is due to an underlying reason. Go to your dentist for a consultation. Or you can consult the best dentists at Smile 4 Ever Family Dentistry at 281-213-5668.