Evaluating that Loose Tooth Feeling
That loose teeth feeling can be unexpected and alarming. There are several reasons why you may have a loose tooth feeling that can be temporary or a sign of a bigger underlying issue. These varying reasons may be caused by new issues or a continuous problem that has been forming unnoticed.
In this article, we will explore the various causes of the loose tooth feeling and the treatment options available to help improve your oral health.
Table of Contents
Do You Have a Loose Feeling Tooth?
A loose tooth feeling can be caused by several factors that range from serious to minimal concern. If you have a loose feeling tooth, it’s always best to evaluate any lifestyle factors that may be causing it. Always consult your dentist if the loose tooth feeling gets worse or if any pain starts to occur.
Reasons Why You Have A Loose Tooth Feeling
Understanding the reason why you have a loose feeling tooth can help find fast relief and prevent any harmful damage to the mouth. There are certain causes of the loose tooth feeling that can be a sign of a bigger underlying problem forming that can cause permanent damage to your oral health.
Reasons why you have a loose tooth feeling are:
Tooth Trauma
Any trauma to the face can cause a sudden loose tooth feeling. The impact of a trauma, like falling or getting hit in the face, can disrupt the teeth and how it is attached to the bone. There are several different types of trauma that may cause a loose tooth feeling.
Direct Trauma: A blow to the mouth or face can cause the teeth to become loose or even knocked out. This type of trauma can occur from sports injuries, car accidents, or other types of physical trauma.
Indirect Trauma: Indirect trauma occurs when the force is transmitted through the jaw or skull to the teeth. This type of trauma can occur from falls, blows to the head, or other types of impact.
Overuse Injury: Some people may develop loose teeth due to overuse, such as from teeth grinding or jaw clenching.
Dental Trauma: Dental procedures such as extractions, implants, orthodontic treatment, or endodontic treatment can cause temporary or permanent loose teeth.
If you experience trauma to the face that causes a loose tooth feeling, it’s important to contact your dentist right away. Time is a big factor with dental injuries and can be a big factor in a tooth being saved. Your dentist may need to stabilize the loose tooth by splinting it or extracting the tooth to prevent infection.
Clenching and Grinding
Clenching and grinding the teeth is also known as Bruxism. Over time, it can cause a loose tooth feeling due to the excessive pressure and force it puts on the teeth and jaw. The habit can also wear down the teeth, causing them to become loose, sensitive, or even break.
The habit of bruxism will cause damage to the bone that supports the teeth which causes the loose tooth feeling. This damage is permanent. When the bone around the teeth deteriorates, it can no longer hold the teeth in place as effectively and causes the loose tooth feeling or shifting in the mouth.
The supporting ligaments that hold the teeth in place can be affected, stretched, or torn. This can also cause a loose tooth feeling and cause the teeth to become less stable and more likely to move or shift.
This habit is a hard one to break but your dentist can help prevent permanent damage to your mouth. Check out our Guide to Using a Night Guard.
Gum Disease
Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gums and bones that support teeth. A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that over 70% of Americans, 65 and older, have Periodontitis.
The gums can become inflamed and start to pull away from the teeth, causing a loose tooth feeling. A severe form of gum disease will cause the bone and tissue supporting the teeth to break down, resulting in a permanently loose feeling tooth or in extreme cases losing the tooth altogether.
For more information check out our Treating Gum Disease Guide.
Cavities
Tooth decay can be a reason why you have a loose tooth feeling. Cavities continue to grow and break down the tooth structure. If you have a large cavity where a good portion of the tooth structure is damaged, you may have a loose feeling tooth.
Tooth Infection
A bad tooth infection will cause a loose tooth feeling by affecting the supporting structures of the tooth. Infections start at the root of the tooth and present as an abscess. The inflammation and swelling in the surrounding tissue and lead to a loss of the supporting bone and tissues.
Check out our article Can Tooth Infections Spread for additional information.
Current or Recent Orthodontic Treatment
Wearing braces or other orthodontic devices can cause the teeth to feel loose as they are repositioned. The movement caused by the brackets and wires can cause a loose tooth feeling. This is expected and nothing to be alarmed about.
Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes can cause changes in the body’s bones and connective tissue, which can lead to a loose tooth feeling. During pregnancy, the body produces higher levels of progesterone, which can cause the ligaments and bones that hold the teeth in place to relax. This loose feeling tooth is temporary and the teeth will return to their normal position after the pregnancy.
During menopause, the body’s production of estrogen decreases, which can lead to bone loss. This can make the jawbone weaker and the teeth less stable, which can lead to a loose tooth feeling.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones in the body become weak and brittle, which can lead to a loss of bone density. This can cause the jawbone to weaken and become less able to support the teeth, leading to the loose teeth feeling. When the jawbone is affected by osteoporosis, the bones can become porous and fragile, which can increase the risk of tooth loss.
Aging
Aging is a common cause of loose teeth feeling and even tooth loss. One of the main reasons is that as we age, our jawbone can shrink and become less dense. This can make the teeth less stable and more likely to move or shift. The ligaments and the supporting bones of the teeth weaken with age, which can cause the teeth to feel loose.
Another reason is that as we age, the gums can recede and pull away from the teeth, exposing more of the tooth’s root. This can make the tooth feel loose, as the root is not as securely anchored in the jawbone as the crown of the tooth.
Will Loose Teeth Tighten Back Up?
Will loose teeth tighten back up? That depends on the reason why you have the loose tooth feeling. If your loose tooth feeling is due to orthodontic treatment or trauma, your tooth will most likely tighten back up. If your tooth is due to permanent damage to the bone, it will not tighten back up or may need intervention by your dentist.
Can Loose Teeth Be Saved?
Can loose teeth be saved? It depends on the cause of why you have a loose tooth feeling. If your loose tooth feeling is due to orthodontic treatment or trauma, your tooth will most likely tighten back up. If your tooth is due to permanent damage to the bone, it will not tighten back up or may need intervention by your dentist.
Loose Teeth Feeling
Having a loose tooth feeling can range from a temporary feeling or a serious underlying issue in the mouth. It is always best to consult with your dentist as soon as possible. Some reasons why you have a loose teeth feeling may be time sensitive in order to save the teeth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal for teeth to wiggle slightly?
Teeth do have some give to them in order to protect them. This is due to the ligaments that support and attach the teeth to the surround bone. If the mobility is major, comes with pain, or doesn’t resolve itself, contact your dentist.
Why do my permanent teeth feel loose sometimes?
Permanent teeth can feel loose at times due to certain factors explained above. It is always best to consult with your dentist to prevent permanent damage to the teeth.
Take Home Smile Store
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