SHARES
Lately, Paula noticed slight movement of her upper back teeth upon eating and toothbrushing. She got very worried as these are permanent teeth which are supposed to last a lifetime. It would too daunting to face the prospect of losing one’s teeth when you are young in your twenties! Without waiting any longer, Paula visited a dentist the next day to find out the cause for her loose teeth.
As young children, we have all experienced wobbly teeth when our milk teeth give way to the emerging adult or permanent teeth for them to grow. However, a loose adult tooth is no longer a normal occurrence. Instead, it is a red flag requiring immediate attention!
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What are the causes of loose teeth?
Teeth become loose when they lose support and slowly detach from the gums and bone. Eating or chewing may cause further loosening of the teeth. There are several reasons to loose teeth.
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Gum disease
In most cases, a loose tooth is largely due to late stage gum disease, also known as periodontitis. This oral health condition involves inflammation and infection of the gums. The usual cause is poor oral hygiene habits which leads to gingivitis before progressing into advanced gum disease.
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Gum disease develops when bacterial plaque around the gum line hardens into tartar due to inadequate brushing and flossing. As more tartar and dental plaque forms, accumulation of bacterial toxins induces gum inflammation, causing gums to bleed easily and formation of gum pockets around the teeth. Consequently, more bacteria form deep within the pockets leading to loss of bone and connective tissues that support the teeth in place. Several signs of gum disease include reddish, swollen, bleeding and tender gums.
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Pregnancy
Raised levels of progesterone and oestrogen hormones may affect the bone and ligaments surrounding the teeth, which may result in tooth mobility. Fortunately, as the condition will resolve after pregnancy, this is usually not a cause for concern. Nevertheless, anyone experiencing gum pain or loose teeth during pregnancy should consult a dentist to rule out other oral health problems.
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Traumatic forces
We may experience loose teeth after the teeth suffer from traumatic or extreme forces. These forces then cause the ligament or tissue surrounding the teeth to become stretched, damaging the teeth support system.
Excessive biting forces. Image source
For example, an impact from a blow to the face or a car accident may damage the teeth and surrounding tissue. Besides that, teeth grinding habit or jaw clenching can cause loosening of teeth as well as tooth wear due to excessive biting forces.
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Tumour or growth
In rare cases, unexplained tooth mobility may indicate jaw tumour. Growth of jaw tumour may cause destruction to the supporting tissues and thus result in loosening of the teeth.
What is the outlook?
A loose adult tooth is never a good sign, but early detection and management can prevent the condition from becoming worse. Maintenance of good oral hygiene is the key to avoid gum disease. In the absence of infection or gum disease, the tooth will be able to regain its support if the cause of tooth mobility is removed. In cases of severe looseness where a tooth is lost or must be removed, there are different replacement options such as dental implants, bridge or dentures.
Do visit a dentist immediately at the first hint of a loose tooth. It is important to stop the progression of the disease as loose teeth are not lost teeth, just yet!
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by Soh May Leng
Born and raised in Malaysia, May Leng obtained her Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Otago, New Zealand. She has joined the GetDoc team to relay valuable health information to the public. Staying active plays a big part in her daily life especially through outdoor sports such as running and swimming. She also enjoys travelling and has a passion for photography. View all articles by Soh May Leng.
