Loose Teeth in Adults
I’m an adult, why do I have loose teeth?! It’s a fair question. Your adult teeth are meant to stay firmly in place, so when one of your teeth starts to become loose, it can be a bit worrying. There are a few reasons why your permanent or adult teeth have become loose. In this blog post, we’ll talk about possible reasons why adult teeth may become loose, how to know if it’s something urgent, and what you can do to keep your teeth strong and steady in the long run.
Table of Contents
What It Feels Like When Your Tooth Starts to Feel Loose
Wobbly Feeling: You may notice that your tooth moves a little when you touch it with your tongue or bite into something.
Mild Soreness: Sometimes, you may notice a dull ache or light pressure around the area, even if you’re not feeling any sharp pain.
Odd When Chewing: You may notice something doesn’t feel right when you chew, like the tooth’s a bit loose or not doing what it usually does, even if there’s no pain.
Catches You By Surprise: One moment, everything feels fine, and then you notice the tooth doesn’t feel right.
If something doesn’t feel right in your mouth, you have every right to feel concerned; it’s your body telling you to pay attention. Make sure you contact your South Perth Dentist and schedule a visit to see what’s going on.
Normal vs. Emergency Loose Teeth in Adults: When to Call Your Dentist
When It’s Usually Not an Emergency
Slight movement after braces: After orthodontic treatment, your teeth may feel a bit different. If you’ve recently had orthodontic treatment, it’s normal for some of your teeth to feel a little loose; they are just trying to shift into their new position.
When It Could Be an Emergency Loose Teeth
Tooth suddenly feels loose: If your tooth starts to feel wobbly and loose unexpectedly, without any recent dental work or obvious cause, it could be a sign that something more serious is going on underneath, which requires serious attention.
Pain, bleeding, or swelling: If your loose tooth is sore too, or bleeds, or you notice swelling in your gums, it’s time to book a check-up. These symptoms could point to an infection or gum disease.
After an injury or knock: If you’ve had a hit to your face, even a light one, and your tooth feels loose afterwards, it’s a good idea to get it checked. Sometimes, the damage may not be obvious right after the damage, but it can still be serious.
Your tooth feels like it might fall out: If it feels like your tooth could come out when you eat or press on it, don’t wait. That’s an urgent situation and should be checked straight away.
Swollen or tender gums with loose teeth: If your gums are irritated and a tooth feels loose, it may be a sign of early gum disease, not just brushing too hard. It should be checked by a dentist promptly.
Not sure if it’s an emergency loose tooth? We don’t recommend waiting or guessing about the causes when it comes to a loose tooth. If you’re unsure, it’s best to book a check-up with an Emergency Dentist Perth soon so that they can take a proper look and make sure everything is alright.
Common Causes of Loose Teeth in Adults
There’s always a reason behind a loose tooth, and it’s not always obvious. Below are some of the most common causes that may explain what’s going on:
Gum Disease
Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is one of the most common reasons why adult teeth become loose. It happens when bacteria build up under your gums and lead to inflammation. Over time, this plaque buildup can damage the tissue and bone that support and hold your teeth in place. This can gradually make your teeth more likely to shift or loosen.
What to look out for: Early signs of gum disease can include gums that bleed easily when you brush or floss, redness, swelling, or bad breath that doesn’t go away. Some people don’t feel anything at first, which is why gum disease is often missed until it becomes more serious.
Accidental Knocks or Injuries
Sometimes, your tooth may become loose because of something simple, like getting hit in the face during a sport, falling, or even biting down too hard on something. These kinds of knocks can damage the structures that hold your tooth in place, even if the tooth looks fine on the outside.
Grinding or Clenching at Night
If you grind or clench your teeth in your sleep, you may not even know you’re doing it, but over time, it can put a lot of pressure on your teeth and gums. This constant force may damage the tiny ligaments that hold your teeth in place and make them feel loose.
Weakening Jawbone From Other Conditions
Sometimes, problems with the jawbone can make your teeth feel loose, not because of your teeth themselves, but because the bone around them isn’t as strong as it should be. This problem may happen if you have conditions like osteoporosis, during pregnancy, or when taking certain medications that affect your bone strength.
Harsh Brushing or Gum Recession
In some cases, your teeth may become loose as a result of receding gums, which can happen due to brushing too hard or using a toothbrush that’s too firm. Over time, this can wear away your gums, slowly pull them back and expose more of your tooth than should be visible.
Rapid Tooth Movement (e.g. braces)
If you’re getting braces, your teeth might feel a bit loose sometimes. As your teeth shift into their new positions, the bone and tissue around them need time to adjust, and that movement can cause them to feel loose sometimes.
Should you worry?
In most cases, this isn’t something to worry about. It’s part of how braces work. But if the looseness feels too strong or comes with pain or swelling, let your orthodontist know.
What Your Dentist Can Do to Help
Deep clean: If your gums are infected, your dentist may do a deep clean under the gumline to remove bacteria and help your swollen gums heal.
Night guards and mouthguards: If grinding or clenching is causing your teeth to become loose, your dentist may make a custom guard for you to wear at night. Custom-made mouthguards help protect your teeth from pressure and stop more damage from happening.
Gum or bone grafts: If the bone or gums around your tooth have been badly damaged, your dentist may suggest a small procedure to help rebuild the area and make the tooth more stable.
Tooth splinting: If a tooth is very loose but still healthy enough to save, your dentist may gently attach it to nearby teeth using a small support.
Everyday Things You Can Do to Keep Your Teeth Steady
Keep Daily Cleaning Gentle but Thorough
Brushing properly: Use a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, and brush twice a day — morning and night. It helps remove plaque without hurting your gums.
Cleaning between teeth: Floss or use interdental brushes to reach the spots your toothbrush can’t. That’s where gum problems often start.
Eat Foods That Help Your Teeth and Bones Stay Strong
Build strength from the inside: Eating foods with calcium and vitamin D — like dairy, leafy greens, or getting some sunlight — helps your jawbone stay healthy and strong.
Watch the sweets and acids: Try to cut back on sugary snacks, soft drinks, and acidic foods. They wear down your enamel and can irritate your gums.
Quit Smoking or Vaping If You Can
How it affects your mouth: Tobacco makes it harder for your gums to heal and increases the risk of gum disease. It stains your teeth and weakens the structures that hold them in place.
Protect Your Teeth If You Play Sport
Use a mouthguard: If you play football, hockey, or any contact sport, make sure you wear a well-fitted mouthguard to reduce the risk of injuries. Sometimes, it only takes one hit to loosen a tooth.
Treat Grinding Early
Night guards can help: If you grind your teeth in your sleep, talk to your dentist. A night guard can protect your teeth and prevent them from getting loose over time. Sometimes, even mild grinding can do a lot of damage if it’s left untreated.
See your dentist regularly
Stay on top of it: Regular check-up and clean sessions can help catch small problems before they become big ones.
Especially if you’ve had gum issues: If you’ve had gum disease or loose teeth before, your dentist may recommend coming in more often to keep everything stable.
Don’t Let a Loose Tooth Turn into a Bigger Problem
If one of your teeth doesn’t feel quite right, it’s worth getting it checked. A quick appointment can give you clarity and help prevent bigger issues down the line. Our dentists are here to help! Reach us directly at (08) 9474 5083 to book a quick check-up.
Acts Dental is also proud to be a NIB preferred provider, HBF preferred provider, HCF preferred provider, Bupa preferred provider, and Medibank preferred provider dentist in Perth.