110 Causes of Loose Teeth

Causes of Loose Teeth
As a child, you start to lose teeth when your adult teeth are ready to replace your baby teeth. When you are an adult, a loose tooth is more problematic as you do not have another set of teeth to replace those. Your adult teeth are meant to be permanent and if they are loosening, then they will eventually fall out if you do not take action.

There is not just one reason why your teeth are loose, but it is a common problem for adults. Also, it does require professional dental treatment in order to be stopped and reversed. Depending on the reason your teeth are loose, the dentist will be able to talk to you about the best treatment plan to restore stability to your teeth. In the meantime, a loose tooth can affect your self confidence and self esteem. It can really take its toll on you if you are trying to hide your smile from the world. If one of your molars is loose, then you may stop eating your favorite foods from the discomfort when you’re chewing. Let’s look at some of the reasons why your tooth is loose when it used to be firmly in place.

The main reason why adults start to experience loose teeth is gum disease. Gum disease starts with the buildup of plaque on the gumline and the hardened plaque becomes tartar. The gums are consistently inflamed and irritated by the tartar and the bacteria from the tartar moves below the gumline. The tissue that keeps the tooth attached to the gums is weakened and the tooth can become loose. Additionally, you may notice that your gums are red, swollen, sore, and bleeding. You may even have unrelenting bad breath from the infection in your mouth. If your gum disease is caught early enough, it can be stopped and reversed. If you do not address your gum disease, you can lose your tooth and potentially bone tissue in your jaw bone.

Older adults can experience loose teeth as a result of their osteoporosis. While the bones in the entire body become weak and start to lose density over time, the teeth and the jaw bones can also become weaker. As the jawbone loses strength, it can’t support and secure teeth in their place as well as it used to. People who are more prone to osteoporosis may need to take extra precautions to prevent and monitor tooth loss.

A more obvious reason for teeth to loosen, but it should not be overlooked is an accidental injury to the tooth. If you have experienced a traumatic injury to your head and/or your teeth, you should be sure to make an appointment with the dentist to ensure that there is no damage that may not be visible to the naked eye. The dentist can use X-rays and other examination techniques to ensure that there is nothing that may cause you to lose teeth later.

Finally, as your hormones change and fluctuate due to pregnancy or menopause, you may be more likely to experience loose teeth. The hormones may affect the ligaments that help attach your teeth to the gums and the jaw bone.