Why Do You Have a Loose Tooth?

A tooth loosens when it starts to detach from the jaw bone. In case of a loose tooth, you require an emergency tooth extraction to ensure that the extracted area is not left infected. Here are a few common reasons why you have a loose tooth.

Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding not only damages your tooth enamel but also loosens the gums around the tooth. Tooth becomes loose due to the extreme pressure that you exert during teeth grinding, unintentionally or in sleep. To treat this, you can use a mouthguard which will give the gums a chance to strengthen the bond around the tooth.

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, hormones like progesterone and estrogen affect the body in various ways. One of those is that it weakens the gums around the tooth and cause them to move adjacently. Although this is temporary and does not result in a loss of a tooth, it is always safer to consult your doctor about this. In extreme situations, it will cause periodontal disease that is a type of infection.

Teeth Injury

Getting shot by a football, getting into a fierce fight, or being hit in the face are typical ways of teeth injury. Usually, the gums and the roots around it will heal over time as long as you do not keep fidgeting your loose tooth with your tongue. If after a few days your tooth condition does not improve, you should opt for an emergency tooth extraction.

Gum Disease

Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, occurs due to poor dental hygiene. It causes inflammation and infection on the gums. When your brushing and flossing methods are not enough to remove plaque, it will possibly lead to gum disease. Tartar, a hardened plaque causes the gums to pull the teeth away because it keeps forming in layers. You can watch out for the signs, such as gums that are tender, red, and bleeding to prevent gum disease.

Medications

No matter how effective medications may be, they also have side effects. Acid reflux and steroidal medications cause calcium deficiency, which is harmful to the jaw bones. Other drugs may lead to dryness in the mouth which pose a risk of gum disease. It is logical that you cannot avoid your medications, but you can consult your doctor or dentist on how to keep your calcium balanced and gums healthy.

Osteoporosis

A medical condition wherein the bones become weaker and denser over time; osteoporosis is frequent in women of age 50 years and above. The jawbone also grows dense, causing the gums to weaken, eventually leading to gum disease as well. At times, extreme osteoporosis can even lead to tooth loss. To prevent this in the future, you should start including calcium-rich foods in your diet during your 30s.

Some of these causes do not require emergency tooth extractions, as mostly you need to keep a healthy diet and have good dental hygiene. You can consult an emergency dental clinic to know what to include in your diet and know the right way to brush.