Fix Loose Teeth in Brimfield, IL
Is it normal for permanent teeth to wiggle?
Wobbly permanent teeth are a fairly common occurrence among children. And while all teeth (both baby and permanent) and the tiniest bit wiggly, any tooth movement beyond 1mm is not considered normal in adults.
If you have a loose tooth, it could be a sign of trauma or disease and should be addressed immediately. Book an appointment right away in our Brimfield office and we’ll determine why your tooth has lost stability and keep it from falling out.
What causes a tooth to become loose?
Gum Disease
Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss. This disease initially shows symptoms like inflamed and bleeding gums. As it advances, gum disease will break down the bone and tissue supporting your teeth, causing them to feel loose. Failing to address this issue puts you at risk of losing the tooth completely.
Impact Injury & Grinding
Teeth can become loose as a result of an impact injury (like a sports injury), fall, or car accident. In these cases, it’s important to understand the exact damage that was sustained and stabilize the tooth. Clenching and grinding your teeth at night can also slowly start to stretch your gums and cause your teeth to feel loose.
Pregnancy
If you’re pregnant, slightly loose teeth can be normal. This is because high levels of the hormones progesterone and estrogen can temporarily loosen the tissues and bones that keep your teeth in place. This usually resolves after pregnancy. However, pregnancy also makes you more susceptible to gum disease, so make sure you’re brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist regularly.
Will a loose tooth tighten back up on its own?
How to stop a loose tooth from falling out
We take an individualized approach to all aspects of dental care, including fixing loose teeth. Step one is understanding why your tooth is loose. From there, common treatment options include:
- Treating gum disease through a deep cleaning, stabilizing your gums with a soft tissue or bone graft, or other gum therapy.
- Stabilizing your tooth to keep it from moving while it heals by bonding a splinting material across the back surfaces of your tooth.
- Removing the tooth and replacing it with a durable, long-lasting solution.
Hear from our patients
The atmosphere in the office is warm and welcoming. The doctor and staff genuinely care about you as an individual as well as the health of your teeth and gums.
– Ruth L.
Loose teeth in children
A loose baby tooth is an exciting right of passage for a child. However, it is possible that your child could lose a tooth too early.
Most children start losing their baby teeth between the ages of 4-8. This happens as permanent teeth grow in, naturally loosening and replacing the baby tooth. Generally, if your child has loose baby teeth, it’s okay for them to ‘wiggle’ them or for you to help them remove the teeth.
But when a baby tooth is lost before a permanent tooth has started growing in, it can cause problems. The adjacent teeth can start shifting into the open space, causing crooked or crowded teeth. It also puts your child more at risk for decay and gum disease to spread.
Whether your child lost a baby tooth or a permanent tooth as the result of an accident, decay, or infection, contact us right away.
Have more questions about loose teeth?
We’d love to hear from you and answer your concerns. Call us at (309) 320-8750 or book online now.
Hours
Monday: 7am–3pm
Tuesday: 7am–3pm
Wednesday: 8:30am–3pm
Thursday: 7am–3pm
Friday: 7am–3pm